Puyallup considering tax to fund mental health services

PUYALLUP, Wash. — The Puyallup City Council is holding a special meeting to discuss the idea of imposing a new sales tax to fund mental health services.

The Pierce County Council is holding their budget meeting Tuesday evening, but the Puyallup City Council has now scheduled its own meeting Tuesday afternoon to discuss the potential new sales tax.

According to the Tacoma News Tribune, Puyallup Mayor John Hopkins called the meeting a "precautionary measure.”

He wants to make sure whatever sales tax is collected stays in the city's coffers.

The discussion comes after the Pierce County Council said last month it's considering a new sales tax to boost mental health and chemical dependency programs.

The tax would generate more than $10 million for the county in 2017.

But the big question remains on how the funds will be allocated to the different cities.

The mayor of Puyallup told the News Tribune that if Pierce County takes initial action, the city couldn't impose the tax -- hence the urgency of the meeting set for 12:30 p.m.

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Cox Media Group