Monday, July 20, 2015
Proposal Would Allow Citizens To Repeal And Replace Property Tax With Wheel Tax
Press release
Less than two weeks after a vote to send a wheel tax increase to referendum failed in the county commission, a group of commissioners are wanting to revive the issue to ensure the people of Lawrence County have the final say on any taxes that may be levied this budget year.
Under a resolution being co-sponsored by a group of commissioners (Jackson, Gillespie, Brown, Hood, Story, Franks,Modlin, Harris, Keeton, Hughes, Eaton and Brewer) at this month's regular session meeting, any property tax increase this year would automatically trigger a wheel tax referendum election being called to coincide with the March 2016 presidential primary. The referendum election would give the citizens of Lawrence County the opportunity to repeal any property tax increase levied this year and replace it with a wheel tax increase.
Last week after months of meetings, the county's budget committee recommended a 33 cent property tax increase to the full commission. The increase will be considered next month when the commission meets to adopt the FY 2015-2016 budget. Per the resolution, if the proposed property tax increase passes the commission and the citizens of Lawrence County then support the wheel tax referendum in March, the property tax increase from this year would be repealed and replaced in next year's budget with a $50 wheel tax increase.
The $50 increase would generate the same amount of revenue as a 33 cent property tax. The resolution contains language that stipulates the only way the wheel tax would be increased is if the property tax increase is repealed simultaneously.
Chris Jackson, who is Chairman Pro-Tempore of the commission and a co-sponsor of the resolution, said that a majority of the county commission was disappointed with the wheel tax vote two weeks ago. "We have about 12 or 13 commissioners who support the idea of giving the people a choice on the wheel tax," Jackson said. He explained that the wheel tax resolution failed previously due to the combination of five commissioners voting no and three yes votes not being able to make the special session meeting due to legitimate out of town commitments and a workplace emergency. The resolution required ten votes to pass and received only nine at the meeting.
According to officials, this proposal is the only avenue left in regards to the wheel tax this year due to the time constraints of adopting a wheel tax increase and setting a budget. If a budget isn't adopted by the county commission before October 1, the Lawrence County School System will lose basic education funding from the State of Tennessee.
"We want the people of Lawrence County to know that a strong majority of this county commission supports giving the people the option to choose a wheel tax over a property tax because like many citizens, a number of us feel it is fairer, touches more people and doesn't adversely affect our county in recruiting industry the way a property tax increase could potentially," Jackson said. "This resolution will give the people a choice and the final say on any tax issue this year."
The resolution will be considered at the July 28th Regular Session Meeting of the county commission. The meeting will start at 5 PM and is open to the public.
