County Board Votes to Put Sales Tax Question on April Ballot

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Published on January 17 2017 5:37 pm
Last Updated on January 18 2017 9:01 am
Written by Greg Sapp

(COUNTY BOARD CHAIRMAN JIM NIEMANN READS A PROCLAMATION IN HONOR OF COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE EMPLOYEE JUDY WIETHOP, WHO HAS RETIRED AFTER 40 YEARS' SERVICE)

The Effingham County Board Tuesday voted to put a quarter cent public safety tax question on the April 4 ballot.

The revenue generated could be used for a variety of projects, but could also help build up a reserve for the County.

The Board's Tax and Finance Committee Chairman Rob Arnold suggested several projects, including three more deputies for the sheriff's department and vehicles for those deputies, new vehicles for Animal Control, an upgraded phone system, work on the roof of the County Office Building and a replacement water heater for the building.

Arnold acknowledged that the County will have more than $1 million annually in additional freed-up revenues after this year once the Effingham County Government Center is paid off. He said those funds could help accelerate the buildup of the reserve.

Tuesday was the deadline to put a public question on the April election ballot.

The question concerning the quarter cent public safety tax will include a sunset provision to take effect in 2022 when all nine of the County Board seats are up for re-election. The point was made, though, that if the sunset provision kicks in, it would hamstring future boards from having those funds available and could hamper the budget planning process. Board members Karen Luchtefeld and Jeff Simpson proposed eliminating the sunset provision, but that motion failed 7-2.

The motion to put the public safety tax question on the ballot barely passed. The vote was 4-4 before Board Chairman Jim Niemann voted in favor of putting the question on the ballot to break the tie. Others who voted in favor of putting the question on the ballot were Doug McCain, Arnold, Lloyd Foster and Dave Campbell. Those who voted against were Simpson and Luchtefeld, along with Joe Thoele and John Perry.

Now, it'll be up to the voters. A simple majority will decide the question one way or the other. If the tax question is approved by the voters, County Clerk Kerry Hirtzel said it would start being collected in the first quarter of 2018. It's anticipated the increase would generate about $450,000 each year.

Also Tuesday, the County Board amended the ordinance guiding the reimbursement of county officers and employees on County business for travel, meal and lodging expenses; and amended the salary schedule to reflect State guidelines.

The Board named Lindsey McKinney-Mette a trustee of the Montrose Fire Protection District, David Budde, Kelly Sager and Shirley Sherwood to the Ambulance Oversight Committee, Ken Larimore to the Economic Development Advisory Board, and Carol Warfield and Dr. Sean Flynn to the Board of Health. Also approved was an agreement for professional engineering services on the Winterrowd Bridge in the southeast part of the county.

The Board also honored the retired Judy Wiethop for her 40 years' service in the Effingham County Clerk's Office.