Houston County Looking into Raising Sales Tax

Matt Boster

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Posted by: Matt Boster
Date: Feb 19 2015 8:14 AM

A major roadway project in Houston County is desperately needed. The bill would cost over 30 million dollars to complete.

Houston County doesn't have the money, so they've come up with what they call the next best solution. It'll be a 2% sales tax increase for unincorporated areas.

“We looked at what the lowest sales take rate is at any municipality in the county and that's out in Cowarts,” said Houston County Commission Chairman, Mark Culver. “It's currently 7% and we just believe taking the unincorporated up to what the current rate in the lowest municipality is a fair way to address this."

The revenue raised from the increased sales tax would not come close to 30 million dollars, but Culver said it's a start.

"It wont generate the 30 million dollars we need but it will generate some revenue we can put towards this problem."

Others like John Shipman aren't as optimistic about the increase.

“Two percent is a mighty large increase at one time, they'll have to justify the two percent, but I could see a half of a percent to start with,” said Shipman.

Some members of the community arguing they pay enough in taxes and won't vote for the increase.

“It made me feel like we need to get these Republicans out of office cause all they want to do is tax us to death, so we don't need no more tax increases,” said Wade Jackson of Cowarts.

If the increase is not approved, Culver said, it will be Houston County that suffers.

"If they don't believe we need the roads that we've had in Houston County - ff they want to let our roads end up looking like some other counties that's the choice they can make,” said Culver.

The decision is ultimately left up to the people of Houston County. It'll be put on the ballot at the presidential primary elections next March.

 

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