2011 Was A Tough Year For Yakima

Yakima is falling short in the crucial fight for money. A tough business climate in 2011 made for what a lot of owners called their toughest year to date. That translated into poor sales and a drop in the taxes those businesses collect for the government. Yakima's taxable retail sales fell by nearly $10 million in 2011. While population is a factor,  cities like Selah and Sunnyside saw an increase of about 10-20 percent from 2010. Interim City Manager, Michael Morales says there's just not enough money and manpower to spur development in Yakima. Without money to pay for more than those policeman and firefighters, community development will

remain a low priority. Yakima's drop in sales goes against the rest of the state. Washington as a whole saw sales increase by more than 3 percent.