|
Wapello County voters will choose whether or not to extend local sales tax
Posted: 07.16.2012 at 11:58 AM
|
OTTUMWA, IOWA -- Come November, voters in Wapello County will not only have to cast votes for presidential and legislative positions, they will also need to decide whether or not to extend the local option sales tax.
The one-cent tax currently runs through 2015, but if the county votes to approve the tax, it will extend to 2025.
Revenues from the tax are used around the county, but primarily in the city of Ottumwa.
"The revenues are split between the different taxing entities based on a formula prepared by the state, so every municipality in the county benefits from that," said Ottumwa City Treasurer Bob Jay. "Currently the use for the tax is to retire the Bridge View Center bonds and then the balance is used for street and sewer projects and if we get it extended, there will be a 10% property tax relief and then 90% will go towards streets and sewers."
Jay said if the tax does not pass in November, the city can try again the following year. However, discontinuing the revenue would prevent the expansion of street repair and cause problems with the funding for the city's sewer separation projects.