Town of Gold Bar may dissolve after money troubles

Facing budget woes, the town of Gold Bar may dissolve.

The Everett Herald reports (http://bit.ly/MlPhGh) that voters of the city of 2,100 people will have a choice in November of either raising property taxes to patch up budget troubles or dissolve and become part of unincorporated Snohomish County.

As the story goes, in 1889 a miner found traces of gold on a river gravel bar, set up a prospectors camp and called it Gold Bar. Twenty-one years later this tiny town incorporated as a city of the same name.

Mayor Joe Beavers blames public records requests that have led to lawsuits. He says this year's tab may hit $90,000, roughly one-sixth of the city's entire general fund.

In King County, the city of Normandy Park is facing a similar choice in November.

The Associated Press