Tacoma passed a firearms tax. Now it plans to spend money researching how to implement it
The city of Tacoma is looking to hire an outside consultant to determine how best to implement its firearms and ammunition tax.
The tax, passed at a contentious meeting in November, will go into effect on July 1, 2020. It is expected to raise $30,000 per year for violence prevention programs.
Meanwhile, the City Council has directed staff to conduct various reviews, including an initiative to research “best practices,” which looks at how other jurisdictions have implemented a similar tax.
Staff recommended at a City Council study session Tuesday the hiring of an outside consultant, which could range from $1,000 for a college student to $10,000 for a professional.
Many council members leaned toward hiring a professional.
“Given the emotion attached to this issue, and what’s at stake here, I feel it’s appropriate to invest in a professional researcher,” City Council member Lillian Hunter said during the meeting.
Also prior to the tax implementation, focus groups will be held with various stakeholders, including gun retailers. From the meetings, staff will “develop a report identifying areas of consensus and key areas of divergence.”
Meetings can range from smaller group discussions to larger meetings with all stakeholders in one room.
To conduct the meetings, the city is seeking to hire an outside facilitator, with estimated cost ranging from $5,000 to $30,000, depending on which option City Council chooses.
Staff will propose a final cost and how to fund the research next month.
By May 25, staff also will report on a fiscal analysis of the tax and reviews of business impacts, programs and initiatives already funded, and the number of firearm-involved criminal offenses.
