BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Telegraph Editor
STARKE — Bradford Clerk of Courts Denny Thompson told commissioners May 31 that a previously discussed 1% sales surtax would result in no new revenue for the county.
Saying the finance office and legal office had received strong guidance against implementing the new tax, Thompson told the board it would actually be revenue neutral.
Thompson originally brought the tax to the board as a way of generating dedicated funding for fire rescue services while lowering the tax burden on property owners to pay for those services.
While the tax would do that, it would also tie commissioners’ hands and create some administrative nightmares for the property appraiser’s and clerk’s offices.
To collect an extra 1% on sales — generating an estimated $2.6 million — the commission would have to roll back property taxes by the same amount. It now appears that the tax rate would be frozen, so the board could not raise revenue for other needs.
In addition, if the county collected more sales tax than anticipated, it would be required to issue rebates to taxpayers.
Chairman Chris Dougherty said that is why other counties have opted out. Thompson said Union County is pulling the referendum from its election ballot, and Liberty County, the only county to ever approve the tax, is repealing it.
Commissioner Danny Riddick made a case for the tax, saying it would at least lower property taxes from 10 mills to around 8. The county cannot go higher than 10 mills anyway, he said. Being frozen at 8 mills would allow them to relieve property owners while funding fire rescue through sales.
But, it interferes with the ability to direct revenue where needed, attorney Will Sexton said. With the sales tax committed to fire rescue, it cannot be spent on other needs, and the commission wouldn’t be able to raise additional revenue by raising property taxes.
The commission previously ended discussion of a special assessment for fire rescue. Electrical franchise fees are still on the table.
But the commission wants to hear more ideas. Commissioners would like public input on how to spend around $5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding. A town hall has been set for July 21 at 6:30 p.m. in the commission boardroom.
