Cultural access program and tax headed for November ballot - Gig Harbor Now

The Gig Harbor City Council has decided to place a cultural access program on the November ballot, which would introduce a 0. 1% sales tax increase to support local arts and cultural organizations. This program aims to provide a dedicated funding stream for nonprofits that offer valuable cultural programming, benefiting both residents and visitors. If approved, the tax would cost the average household about $3. 60 per month, with exemptions for food and gasoline.

Strong community support was evident at the March 10 meeting, where nearly all speakers expressed their approval of the initiative. The proposed tax increase would bring Gig Harbor's total sales tax to 9. 2%, following previous increases in 2024. The cultural access program is modeled after successful initiatives in Tacoma and other Washington cities, reinforcing the importance of cultural funding. The November ballot will also include elections for five city council members and the mayor, making this a significant local election.

The decision reflects Gig Harbor’s commitment to enhancing its cultural landscape and supporting community engagement through arts and heritage programming.