The Sales Tax referendum that was just over the horizon on the ballot dominated discussion during April 20’s White County Commission. After months of debate on how the money could be spent, the commission finally voted on a resolution on how to spend the money. The resolution failed, so the Commission has no set in writing plan for the sales tax revenue.
The Sales Tax usage resolution was, as to be expected, hotly debated, and given a lot of back and forth during the meeting. Contingent only if the citizens vote for the sales tax on the ballot, the Commission estimates around a million dollars in yearly revenue from the added sales tax.
Commissioner Brewington asked for clarification on the amount given back to taxpayers, and Chairman Derrick Hutchings confirmed about five pennies, or around $500,000, of the revenue was intended for property tax relief.
Commissioner TK Austin said, “We determined that we couldn’t technically count it as pennies. We were going to have to set a set amount that we were going to give back because the fluctuation in your penny amount.”
Commissioner Brewington then asked the plan for the other estimated $500,000. Chairman Hutchings said, “We’re estimating. We don’t know. It could be nine hundred, it could 1.1 or two, we don’t know. So, in my opinion, it would be irresponsible for us to say we’re going to give every bit of it back, because we don’t know what every bit of it will be.”
Brewington responded, “It’s just hard for me to ask the public or the taxpayers, give us more money. And here in the last few years, we’re not responsible doing what we say we’re going to do.”
Commissioner Becky Golden added as well, “We sound like we’re wishy-washy, we say one thing and then the next week we do something else. And he didn’t, but I will make a motion to amend, and the whole ten pennies go towards property tax.”
Commissioner Cain Rogers showed concern with the amendment given that there is no number value the Commission can work with.
Commissioner Golden’s amendment to put all the additional sales tax revenue towards property tax relief failed with a vote of 6-3. Kyle Goff, Becky Golden, and Chris Brewington voted yes, while TK Austin, Larry Daniels, Derrick Hutchings, Robert McCormick, Cain Rogers, and Dakota White voted no.
Immediately after the amendment failed, Commissioner Dakota White put forward his own amendment, saying, “For the most optimistic way to get this to pass the ballot box, I’m going to do $500,000 to property tax (as in to lowering the rate), $300,000 towards roads, $100,000 to property tax relief as stated before, and then $100,000 to the animal shelter.”
This amendment also failed. The Commissioners who voted yes for the amendment are Kyle Goff, TK Austin, Derrick Hutchings, and Dakota White. Larry Daniels, Robert McCormick, Becky Golden, Cain Rogers, and Chris Brewington voted no.
Once again back at the original resolution, which was the $500,000 towards property tax relief, while the rest of the revenue not given a specified amount per department, commissioners voted once again. And it failed, again, at a 4-5 vote.
Kyle Goff, Larry Daniels, Becky Golden, Chris Brewington, and Cain Rogers voted no, while TK Austin, Derrick Hutchings, Robert McCormick, and Dakota White voted yes.
The Sales Tax Referendum is on the ballot for primaries. Early voting is currently open through April 30 on the second floor of the Courthouse.
Other topics at the County Commission will be included in Tuesday, April 28’s edition, including resignations from the Beer Board, other amendments from committees, and the full implementation of the Open Meeting system.
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