Mt. Vernon Register-News

Local

October 13, 2008

Treasurer clarifies safety tax ballot

By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — Jefferson County Treasurer Debbie Marlow says she thinks wording of the ballot question to extend the 1/4 percent Public Safety Tax is misleading, and wants voters to know it’s not a new tax.

“It’s a continuation of what is in place right now,” Marlow said. “The question uses the word increase, which I think will lead people to think is additional, but all voting yes on it will do is keep the status quo.”

The wording of the proposition is set by statute, according to previous information provided by Jefferson County State’s Attorney Gary Duncan.

The question states: “To pay for public safety purposes, shall Jefferson County be authorized to impose and increase of its share of local sales taxes by one quarter of 1 percent for a period not to exceed 10 years. This would mean that a consumer would pay an additional 25 cents in sales tax for every $100 of tangible personal property bought at retail. If imposed, the additional tax would cease being collected at the end of 10 years, if not terminated earlier by a vote of the county board.”

It’s the use of the words “increase” and “additional” that Marlow said she believes may be misleading to voters.

Jefferson County residents have been paying a 1/2 percent Public Safety Tax, and the Jefferson County Board voted in May to retire 1/4 percent of the tax effective Dec. 31.

Marlow pointed out the question asks voters to continue to pay the 1/2 percent being imposed at this time.

The tax was approved by voters in 2005, and the board earmarked 1/4 percent to be set aside to pay the Jefferson County Justice Center bond payments and the other 1/4 percent to retire debt from a Fifth-Third bank loan and money borrowed from the Jefferson County Highway Department.

The portion earmarked for bond payments allow the county board to abate the property taxes to keep the bond payments off the real estate rolls. Marlow said with the current economic difficulties and the lower tax receipts in the area, she believes if the 1/4 percent extension isn’t approved by voters, there won’t be enough money to abate the taxes next year.

“If this isn’t voted in and the 1/4 percent allowed to drop off, I don’t know how the county can survive, based on finances right now,” Marlow said. “I know the county is talking about getting [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] prisoners, but that’s down the road, not now. I don’t know how they will be able to abate the taxes in March without it.”

Marlow said due to the conditions of the alternate revenue bonds for the Justice Center, the county must have about $1.2 million in its possession to satisfy the bond holders before the taxes can be abated.

“If ICE comes through and the economy gets better, then the county board can always retire the 1/4 percent tax,” Marlow said. “But the way things are going now, I don’t know how we’ll have the bond payment without it.”

The Public Safety Tax receipts can be used for crime prevention, detention, fire fighting, police, medical, ambulance or other emergency services.

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