County Administrator Tim Holloran briefed the City Council Monday night on provisions of the agreement, which has been negotiated for the last several months, with a May 10 deadline to put the county-wide tax increase on the August election ballot.
Council member Bill Turner said, "There's been give and take in the contract and I'm happy with it," adding, "Crime doesn't copy at any point in the county."
Acknowledging the jail "is something that people don't want to pay for," Council member Brad Adams said, "but it's necessary."
Brian Geer, a candidate for Mayor, said, “I hope we don’t forget the state of the jail and I hope the community keeps in mind where we are at with this jail when we vote."
Mayor Dean Maxwell, up for re-election this year, threw his support for the agreement, saying, "This is a success story for Skagit County." He said, "Anacortes has a real stake in the game here, as one of the safest small communities in America and we want to hang on to that status."
Under the agreement, the county will collect all of the revenue from the sales tax increase, with the exception of sales tax money to be reimbursed to Anacortes, Burlington and Sedro-Woolley.
Holloran reporters after the meeting that he will brief other City Councils later this week on the plan. He said he expects to have ballot language ready by next Monday. The Anacortes City Council vote to approve the agreement isn't expected until May 6.