Economic Growth for Yakima

Our city finds itself in an unprecedented budget deficit. We need to be able to balance the books, while also ensuring valuable community services remain available to our citizens.

Below are just some of the initiatives that will spur economic growth that I would like to pursue if you elect me as your City Council District Six representative:

Support Yakima businesses and the people who shop there

• Fill empty storefronts by offering incentives for property owners.

• Solicit corporate and inter-agency funding for long-term investment and future growth.

• Expand local tourism and agritourism by creating a local Tourism Improvement District (TID) with a small hotel tax (example = 1% Transient Occupancy Tax) to fund the marketing. It will be a quick and solid return on investment. Partnering with local wineries and breweries, as well as hosting seasonal festivals, will increase visitor spending.

  
  

Diversify Yakima’s economic portfolio

• Create sustainable job opportunities for all residents.

• Focus on agri-tourism,  family/community engagement locations, and beautification projects. 

Increase city revenue and listen to the general public

• Implement policies and procedures that have worked in similar cities such as Union Gap and Pasco.

• Implement a scalable Business License Modernization and Tiered Fee Structure to ensure large businesses contribute more fairly.

• Introduce a Vacant Property & Short-Term Rental Tax Reform, which would impose a vacant property tax on long-term, unoccupied commercial property.

• Introduce Tax-Increment Financing & Land Value Capture by designating “revitalization zones,” where new developments generate future tax revenue. This will capture the future value of public investment without raising current taxes.