In a 4-1 vote the Marengo County Commission passed a 1 cent sales tax. The tax has been talked about for awhile now, with much opposition coming from the community. Commissioner Freddie Armstead stated,
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We knew that if the people voted on tax, they wouldn't pass it, so we passed it ourselves. |
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The lone no vote came from our own Ken Tucker, who has stated all along he wouldn’t support a tax unless the public voted it in.
What hasn't happened, things that Tucker has stated he wanted, is a public hearing on the tax and an outline as to what exactly the money is going to be used for. Armstead says the money will first be used to remodel the courthouse and annex building. He also states that every dirt road in Marengo County will be paved, money will go to schools (county schools I'm assuming), and the Commission will begin funding the indigent care at Bryan W Whitfield Hospital, assumingly as part of a sealed agreement between the County and the hospital that occurred shortly after Mike Marshall took over.
The actual vote that passed is a resolution, which is sent to State Representatives Thomas Jackson and Bobby Singleton. Once they approve it (considered a done deal), it will be voted through by the legislature without challenge, then the Governor signs it. This will occur most likely in February. The tax is predicted by Armstead to raise around $500,000 a year. A financial group recently stated that the money raised would be lower, though Ken Tucker feels the money could reach $1.5 million a year. No actual plan has been presented though. The Commission is supposed to present a detailed plan at the next meeting in February. The thinking is to fund all the projects, they will get a bond, which can be up to about $20 million dollars based on $500,000. Problem is, how will they know how much tax will be collected before time to pay the bond?