Tax money option for affordable housing

Whitman County commissioners Monday approved an ordinance to adopt State House Bill 1406 to keep part of the tax collected in the county to be used locally for affordable housing.

A public hearing brought no public comment Monday morning.

The state bill was passed in May. Now Whitman County will be allowed to hold back state sales and use tax in the amount of $100,000 - $115,000 per year.

The program would take a credit against the state sales tax of 6.5 percent – which would amount to the county holding back .0146 percent – to create this fund.

The bill sets the program for the next 20 years.

The parameter for how the money is to be used includes acquiring property or buildings, rehabilitating existing buildings, constructing new housing and/or operation and maintenance costs of new housing.