- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
Board of Supervisors reviews sales tax proposal
The county is proposing to place the 1.5-percent sales tax before voters as one of the ways of addressing what it says is a critical financial shortfall.
The review during the board’s Tuesday meeting didn’t result in a vote, just consensus to move forward.
County Counsel Anita Grant asked board members to review the necessary documents – including an ordinance that will only go into effect if voters approve the ballot measure, the tax measure itself and a resolution placing it on the June 5 ballot – before next week.
Staff said the board had to vote no later than its March 6 meeting in order to make the deadline for the June ballot.
On Tuesday, Grant said the documents were still under review by state tax officials.
“This is kind of the wellness check, if you will,” she said.
“We have looked at sales tax increases for quite some time,” said Supervisor Jeff Smith, who wanted to explore shaving off some of the proposed increase and doing a separate road-specific special tax in order to qualify for self-help funds through the state.
Public Works Director Scott De Leon, who was on hand for the discussion, said those funds Smith referred to come through SB 1, which sets aside $200 million annually for jurisdictions with specific sales taxes.
To qualify, De Leon said the county would have to have a minimum quarter-percent sales tax for a minimum of 10 years, and it would have to be a special – not a general – tax, meaning it would have to pass by a supermajority vote of at least 66.7 percent.
Smith estimated that a quarter-cent sales tax would raise $750,000 a year.
“We’re so far behind it’s absolutely unbelievable,” Smith said, noting that a dollar spent today saves $5 tomorrow.
It was explained during the discussion that law enforcement services and roads were among the top-rated concerns of community members during January’s community visioning forums. Supervisor Moke Simon said they also needed to help employees.
Cheryl Carr was the only member of the public to speak during the item. She complained that the county wasn’t looking at cuts rather than a tax.
In response to another concern of Carr’s, that the discussion hadn’t been timed on the agenda, Board Chair Jim Steele said it would be a timed item on the March 6 agenda.
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