Commissioners want county to have fair share of sales tax

The White County Board of Commissioners has approved sending the decision of whether or not to raise sales tax to a public vote.

The sales tax in White County is 2.25 percent added to the state’s 7 percent and resulting in consumers paying 9.25 percent on purchases across White County. As it stands, the City of Sparta has a tax rate that is .50 percent higher than that in the county.

“Currently the city and county tax is uneven,” Commissioner Derrick Hutchings said.

Hutchings explained that the way the revenue from sales tax is currently split is keeping money from coming into the county.

 “The city splits 2.25 percent with the county, but the other .50 percent they keep,” Hutchings said. “If we passed this, they would have to split that with us.”

Hutchings informed the board that $1.6 million in sales tax was collected within the City of Sparta and with the disparity in the tax rates, the county lost out on receiving half of that money.

“Sixty-seven percent of all sales tax in White County is collected in the city,” Hutchings said.

Resolution 04-02-2024 Sales Tax Referendum puts the decision on whether or not to raise the sales tax in the county to match that of the city and forcing an even split of tax revenues to a public vote that would take place during the August 2024 election. The resolution passed with a 9 to 3 vote with Dakota White, Chris Brewington, and Kyle Goff casting the “nay” votes. Lanny Selby and Roger Mason were absent.

Other items on the agenda, all of which were approved unanimously, included Resolution 05-02-2024 that declared a 1974 Hahn Pumper Truck as surplus property with the county, donating the vehicle to the Cassville Fire Department. Resolution 06-02-2024 – Amend FY 2024 General Fund served to take insurance proceeds from a vehicle that had belonged to the sheriff’s office, but was totaled, and appropriate them to be used for the purchase of an Axon Fleet 3 camera for an existing vehicle within the same department.

The board of commissioners also approved notary applications for Miranda McCullough, Kathy Lewis, Cara Wilhite, Robin Klukis, Pamela Bertram, Peggy Moore, Michael Tallent, Tammy Thomas, and Monica Brewington.

Under new business, Resolution 07-02-2024 was presented and passed unanimously. The resolution established a speed limit of 35 miles per hour on Glen Road between Jarvis Road and Franks Ferry Road.

The next meeting of White County Board of Commissioners will be 6 p.m.,  March 18. Committee meetings are typically held on the first Monday of the month. All meetings are open to the public.