On Wednesday, the 15-member Clark County Charter Review Commission narrowly signed off on sending a tax-tightening charter amendment to the November general election ballot, setting up a high-stakes fight over how easy it should be for the county to raise money. The proposal now heads to county election staff, who will craft an official ballot title.
What the amendment would do
According to Clark County, the amendment would require at least a two-thirds "yes" vote from the County Council to approve any new "councilmanic tax" or to increase the rate of an existing one. The rule would not cover fees, rates, charges or special assessments. The county materials also clarify that the change "does not alter the County’s taxing authority under state law" and would take effect Jan. 1, 2027, if voters sign off in November.
How it got here
The Charter Review Commission spent months chewing over roughly a dozen proposed charter tweaks and taking public testimony before a final July voting session. As the Camas‑Washougal Post‑Record reported, commissioners had been weighing a wide range of governance and fiscal ideas heading into the July 8 meeting, with the supermajority tax proposal among the most closely watched.
Reaction and what's at stake
Backers of the amendment cast it as a guardrail against routine tax increases and a way to force broader agreement on big fiscal decisions. Opponents countered that raising the bar could make it tougher to pay for public safety, transportation and other county services. That divide came through in both the vote and commentary from local stakeholders, as covered by OPB, setting the stage for a charged campaign season.
Next steps
The commission’s resolution tells staff to forward the amendment packet to the county prosecutor and file a copy with the Clark County Auditor so officials can draft an official ballot title and voters’ pamphlet material, the county packet states. If voters approve the measure in November, the new language will be folded into the Home Rule Charter and will kick in Jan. 1, 2027.
In the meantime, political lines are already forming. Local advocacy group Future 42 has urged supporters to rally behind a supermajority tax rule, and other organizations are expected to jump in as the county barrels toward the fall vote.
