Politics
Stanley Sales Tax Referendum Sets 2027 Implementation Timeline for Housing Funds
Stanley residents will see the new 0.5 percent levy appear on receipts from January 2027 if voters approve the November ballot measure, with the first affordable housing grants expected in the 2027-2028 city budget.
How we reported this
The City of Stanley has placed a sales tax increase on the November 3 2026 ballot that would raise the local rate by half a percentage point to generate revenue for affordable housing construction and rental assistance programs. The measure would apply to all taxable retail purchases made inside city limits and would affect every household that shops at stores or uses services within Stanley boundaries.
City documents show the current local sales tax rate stands at 6.5 percent and that the additional half point is projected to yield 4.2 million dollars annually once fully collected. The referendum comes as the Stanley Housing Authority reports a waiting list of 1,800 households for subsidized units and as the 2026-2027 city budget already projects a 1.8 million dollar shortfall in housing-related expenditures.
When Residents Would See Changes
If approved, the tax increase would take effect on January 1 2027. Shoppers would notice the higher rate on receipts starting that month, while property owners and renters would not see direct changes until the city releases its first round of grants later in 2027. Local advocates note that construction on new units funded by the levy could begin as early as spring 2028 under the current capital planning schedule.
City budget papers indicate that 60 percent of the new revenue would go to direct rental subsidies for low-income households and 40 percent to gap financing for new apartment projects. A typical Stanley household spending 18,000 dollars a year on taxable goods would pay an extra 90 dollars annually under the proposed rate.
The legislation states that the tax would remain in place for eight years unless voters extend it in a future election. The first allocation of funds would occur during the annual budget process that begins in March 2027, with the housing authority required to publish quarterly reports on units completed and households served.
Ballots will be mailed to registered voters beginning October 15 2026. The city clerk's office has scheduled two public information sessions at Stanley City Hall on September 12 and October 5 to explain the measure's revenue projections and spending rules.