Marysville voters, do you want to learn more about the sales tax measure on your August Primary Election ballot? Two informal information sessions are scheduled in July.

Drop in for a brief description of the proposal and to ask your questions of city staff. Ballots are due Aug. 7.

Voters who live within Marysville city limits are being asked whether they support a sales tax increase of one-tenth of one percent (or 10 cents on a $100 purchase) to construct a new Police Services Building including city jail. If approved, the new Marysville sales tax rate of 9.2% would still be lower than many Snohomish County cities.

When the current Public Safety Building opened in 1986, the Marysville Police Department had 24 employees. More than 30 years later, city population is seven times larger than it was then. The police force has expanded over the years to serve our growing city and has outgrown the current facility. Because of that, some critical teams have been moved offsite.

Marysville is one of only two Snohomish County cities with its own jail, an important component of the city’s crime-reducing strategies. The footprint of the jail has not increased since it was built and it usually is full to capacity. Without a larger city jail, Marysville Police officers would lose the ability to immediately arrest suspects for most misdemeanor crimes.

For more information, visit www.marysvillewa.gov/CriminalJusticeTax.