The Cowlitz County Board of Commissioners has approved a new sales tax to help fund public safety services.

There was not full consensus in the decision. Commissioners Steve Rader and Steve Ferrell voted for the one-tenth of one percent tax, while Commissioner Rick Dahl was in opposition.

The tax takes effect January 1st and is expected to raise about $3.3 million in 2027. The cost to taxpayers comes out to one cent on every $10 of a purchase and applies only to sales in unincorporated Cowlitz County, meaning the cities of Longview, Kelso, Kalama, Castle Rock and Woodland are not included in this change. Though it should be mentioned that Longview and Kelso recently approved similar taxes within their city limits.

The money will go toward law and justice services, including the courts, sheriff’s office, jail, juvenile services, public defender and coroner. The tax is intended to, in part, help address a projected $5.9 million county budget shortfall next year.

Commissioner Dahl argued the county should reduce spending rather than raise taxes. He said, as of late, it seems like governments are taking more and more, hindering business.

Commissioners Rader and Ferrell said rising labor, benefits and insurance costs are putting pressure on the county budget. Rader argued that this is how a business would go about doing things, passing the cost along to consumers. He also said, as a taxpayer, he doesn’t like it just as much as the next person, but the need is just simple math.