Camas City Council greenlights new revenues to close budget gap

In an effort to shore up a nearly $6 million budget shortfall, maintain the city’s streets and invest in the police department, the Camas City Council this week approved several revenue packages included in Camas Mayor Steve Hogan’s proposed 2025-26 budget.

The Council adopted an ordinance that will sunset the existing 2% tax on the City’s water, stormwater, sewer and solid waste (garbage) utilities on Dec. 31, and begin a new 2% utility tax the following day, on Jan. 1, 2025. The ordinance includes a mandatory review of the tax during the City’s biennial budget process and also allows the City to waive or decrease the utility tax for low-income residents.