12th District State Senator Hawkins Signs On to Republican Bill to Use Local Sales Tax Money to Hire Police Officers

Washington State Senate Republicans are proposing a bill to allow local sales taxes or use taxes to fund police departments.

Sen. Brad Hawkins of the 12th District has joined the entire Republican caucus and one Democrat who has caucused with the GOP (Sen. Tim Sheldon) to sponsor the proposal.

Cities and counties would be able to charge a 0.1 percent sales tax and spend the money to hire more police officers if the bill were to become law.

The bill would only cover police departments in the state that have as many police officers on their force as the national average for departments.

The proposal also includes language allowing the sales or use tax money to be used for curbing domestic violence, reducing homelessness and improving behavioral health among other things.

The bill has been assigned to the Senate Law and Justice Committee, but does not have a hearing scheduled.

Democrats control the Washington State Senate with a 29-20 majority.