Community Government
Cultural access program and tax headed for November ballot
The city of Gig Harbor has kicked around the idea of a cultural access program since at least 2023. On Monday, the city council kicked it over to the voters.
At its March 10 meeting, the council instructed city staff develop a cultural access program and add it to the November ballot. This fall’s election will also include election of five council members and the mayor.
A cultural access program would provides a dedicated funding stream to nonprofit organizations that offer arts, science, heritage and cultural programming for students, adults and visitors. The money would come from a .1% sales tax if city of Gig Harbor voters approve it.
A local cultural access program could support the Harbor History Museum, Gig Harbor BoatShop, Harbor WildWatch, Hands on Art, performing arts groups and other nonprofits. Some money could also go to the Peninsula School District for arts, science and cultural programs, field trips, artist-in-residence programs and other activities.
Harbor History Museum Executive Director Stephanie Lile said the cultural access tax would cost the average Gig Harbor household about $3.60 per month. Food and gasoline are exempt from this tax.
Gig Harbor’s sales tax is 9.1% after two increases in 2024 — one approved by voters and another by the city council. Cultural access would boost it to 9.2%.
Tacoma approved a similar program in 2016. Olympia, King County, San Juan County and the city of Vancouver also have cultural access programs.
Discussion began in 2023
The council has been considering the cultural access program since July 2023 and made it a strategic goal in June 2024. The council discussed the program at its Feb. 28 retreat and solicited public comment at the March 10 meeting.
Almost two dozen people spoke on Monday, nearly all in favor of the program.
State law gives the city council the option of adopting the cultural access program and sales tax with or without a vote of the public. Most council members appear unwilling to implement it on their own, noting they already approved a sales tax increase for street maintenance and voters approved an increase to fund police and public safety.
Other business
The council voted unanimously to accept a $200,000 donation from the Gig Harbor Commercial Fishermen’s Club to go toward construction of a commercial fishing homeport in Ancich Waterfront Park. The homeport pier would provide moorage facilities for 17 commercial fishing vessels and also for small human-powered watercraft.
The council also approved an amendment to the city’s agreement with the YMCA for Phase 1A of the Sports Complex. The largest change in the agreement is that the city will allocate $2 million in Hospital Benefit Zone funds to the project; and the city will own the parking lot and associated landscaping and driveways once the project is completed. The YMCA will be in charge of maintaining the site.
Next council meeting
The council meets for a study session at 3 p.m. Thursday, March 15, at the Civic Center to review possible names for the Sports Complex Phase 1B, code changes related to accessory dwelling units, multi-family housing property tax exemptions and license plate-reader cameras. The meeting can also be accessed via Zoom.