OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington state lawmakers have approved a $100 million grant program aimed at addressing critical police staffing shortages across the state, offering local governments a new path to fund public safety even when voters have rejected tax increases in the past, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.
House Bill 2015, which passed on April 27 and is expected to be signed by Gov. Bob Ferguson, sets aside funds from the state’s operating budget to help cities and counties hire new law enforcement officers. The measure allows municipalities to enact a 0.1% local sales tax for public safety services without requiring voter approval — a significant shift from current policy.
Washington ranks last in the nation for law enforcement officers per capita, according to the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.
Under the new law, grants would be administered by the state’s Criminal Justice Training Commission. The state would cover 75% of entry-level officer salaries — up to $125,000 — over a two-year period. However, in order to qualify for those funds, local governments must adopt the new sales tax, ensuring they can sustain the positions long-term.
The bill also broadens the definition of public safety for how the new sales tax revenue can be used. Eligible spending includes not only police officers and sheriff’s deputies, but also court services, prosecutors, mental health professionals, diversion programs and other support services.
Clark County Sheriff John Horch has also warned of a growing gap between staffing levels and population growth, telling county commissioners in April that his department needs 90 additional deputies.
While the new grant program offers relief, lawmakers acknowledge that cities and counties remain ultimately responsible for funding their public safety services, according to the report. Reeves said the program is also an opportunity to better understand why localities are struggling to meet those responsibilities.
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