A bill in the House Finance Committee could expand the way local governments spend their public safety sales tax revenues.

SB 5341, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Wilson (R–Longview), allows local governments to use a portion of the revenues raised from the local public safety sales and use tax for costs related to emergency medical services.

Local governments may impose a number of restricted local sales taxes on top of the state sales tax. Cities have the authority to impose a public safety sales tax at a rate of 0.1 percent. At least one-third of the revenues must be used solely for criminal justice purposes, fire protection purposes, or both. SB 5341 makes emergency medical services an allowable use for one-third of the revenues raised from the local public safety sales tax.

The bill comes at a time when our smallest cities and towns are experiencing insufficient funding for basic emergency response training. These communities rely on volunteers to provide emergency services, and cannot afford to pay for, or ask volunteers to pay for training. The bill would provide greater flexibility for local emergency services and allow volunteers to maintain required training and certification.

SB 5341 was heard in the House Finance Committee on March 15 at 10 am. To view the public hearing and testimony, click here.