City officials in Washington have issued a clear statement reaffirming that no formal decision has been made to close the local license plate agency, addressing community concern and speculation that surfaced recently.

Residents had voiced uncertainty regarding the future of the agency — which handles vehicle registrations and paperwork — amid broader state-level shortages and administrative changes that have affected license plate availability and processing times.

The clarification makes clear that while ongoing operational challenges related to license plate production have been acknowledged, the city council and administrative leaders have not authorized any action to discontinue services at the agency.

Officials stressed that if any determination regarding changes to the agency’s status were to be considered, it would be subject to a formal review process with public input and transparent communication to affected stakeholders.

The renewed affirmation aims to reassure motorists and local businesses that routine services such as registration renewals, replacements and related vehicle licensing functions remain scheduled to continue without interruption.

At the state level, the Washington State Department of Licensing has been grappling with a persistent license plate shortage, prompting temporary measures such as issuing paper temporary tags and changes to manufacturing processes to address prolonged delays and backlogs.

These broader challenges, however, have not translated into a directive to close individual licensing offices.

City leaders reiterated their commitment to serving residents and working with state authorities to navigate any operational issues that may arise, underscoring that no closure is imminent or under formal consideration.