Kelso voters have chance to address city's long-needed street repairs

Boosting transportation sales tax to 0.3% an investment in city's livability

Kelso is asking voters to approve a tax increase to help repair the city’s crumbling streets.

There are several reasons to vote for Kelso Proposition 1, which is an opportunity to invest in Kelso’s future.

The amount of additional tax would be small — 0.2% — and would bring the city’s total transportation sales tax to 0.3%. That’s a tripling of the current rate — 0.1% — but the new amount would cost shoppers just 30 cents on a $100 purchase. Food sales are exempt.

A significant portion of Kelso sales tax revenue is paid by outsiders shopping at the Three Rivers Mall or other businesses at the Allen Street exit, according to city officials, although the city does not have statistics about that.

The city estimates a 0.3% sales tax would generate $1 million annually to repair residential streets, which unlike arterial roadways are not eligible for state or federal grant money.

Money from the tax would go into the city’s Transportation Benefit District (TBD) to finance street needs identified in the city’s six-year capital improvement plan.

A consulting firm in 2022 identified a $14 million city street maintenance backlog. Even if voters go along with the tax hike, the revenue would not finance all of Kelso’s street repair needs. It would, however, enable the city to repair high-priority roadways, such as North Second Avenue and South Vista Way, and do a better job of maintaining other streets, said Councilman Mike Karnofski.

The tax increase is not, as some critics assert, meant to cover a revenue shortfall in Kelso’s operating budget.

The TBD tax would drop back down to 0.1% in 10 years. Voters at that time would have to decide whether to retain or increase it.

The Kelso City Council unanimously created the Transportation Benefit District (TBD) in 2023 and at the time adopted a 0.1% sales tax to raise street repair money.

The council this year voted unanimously to ask voters to increase the tax to 0.3% to meet a commitment to improve city streets and keep pace with maintenance needs.

Karnofski said the city choose a sales tax increase because it is less of a pinch on Kelso residents than increasing property taxes through selling bonds or establishing Local Improvement Districts.

“This is the best option for Kelso citizens. A significant portion (of the sales tax) will be paid by people who do not live in Kelso but who use Kelso roads when they come over here” to shop or patronize businesses, he said.

This tax is not going to chase businesses or shoppers away. Good streets are an important aspect of quality of life. They boost real estate values, reduce car maintenance costs and improve the appearance and livability of neighborhoods.

A yes vote is therefore more than an investment in asphalt and concrete. It’s a commitment to Kelso’s future.