Pullman City Council Considers 0.10% Sales Tax Hike for Police Funding

The proposed increase would generate $625,000 annually for the Pullman Police Department.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 3:42am

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A serene, cinematic painting of a lone police car parked on a shadowy city street, capturing the quiet contemplation of local law enforcement amid municipal fiscal pressures.The proposed sales tax increase aims to provide much-needed funding for the Pullman Police Department amid the city's broader budget challenges.Pullman Today

The Pullman City Council will vote on Tuesday to raise the local sales tax by 0.10% in order to provide additional funding for the city's police department. The tax hike would generate an estimated $625,000 per year for the Pullman PD, which is dealing with budget shortfalls.

Why it matters

Pullman is facing a multi-million dollar budget deficit, leading the city to make cuts to services and staff. The proposed sales tax increase is an effort to stabilize funding for the police department, which has seen its budget impacted by the broader fiscal challenges.

The details

The Washington state legislature passed a law last year allowing local jurisdictions to raise sales tax by 0.10% to fund criminal justice operations. Pullman PD has completed the required training to be eligible for this tax increase. If approved, the 0.10% hike would take effect on July 1 and generate an additional $200,000 for the rest of this year.

  • The Pullman City Council will vote on the proposed sales tax increase on Tuesday, April 15, 2026.
  • The 0.10% sales tax hike, if approved, would take effect on July 1, 2026.

The players

Pullman City Council

The governing body of the City of Pullman, Washington, which is considering a 0.10% sales tax increase to fund the local police department.

Pullman PD

The Pullman Police Department, which is facing budget shortfalls that the proposed sales tax increase aims to address.

Washington Legislature

The state legislature that passed a law last year allowing local jurisdictions to raise sales tax by 0.10% to fund criminal justice operations.

Whitman County Commissioners

The county commissioners who recently raised the sales tax by 0.10% to help fund the county sheriff, prosecutor, and courts.

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What’s next

The Pullman City Council will vote on the proposed 0.10% sales tax increase during its meeting on Tuesday, April 15, 2026. Citizens will have an opportunity to provide comments to the council near the start of the meeting, which begins at 5:30 PM in City Hall.

The takeaway

The proposed sales tax hike is an attempt by Pullman city leaders to address budget shortfalls and stabilize funding for the local police department, which has seen its budget impacted by broader fiscal challenges facing the city.