Staff writer
September was the best month for sales tax receipts for Marion County since at least 2003, excluding a one-time payment related to the Keystone oil pipeline, County Clerk Carol Maggard told Marion County Commission on Tuesday.
Maggard described the receipts, totaling $61,060, as “awesome.” That represented a 12.9 percent increase from September 2009.
Despite a slow start to 2010, sales tax receipts now are $27,244 ahead of where they were in 2009, with $581,985 through 11 months. Sales tax is distributed two months after it is collected.
Commissioners concerned about TIF districts
Commissioners Randy Dallke and Dan Holub both expressed concerns about proposed tax increment financing districts in Hillsboro and Peabody, but for different reasons.
Dallke said he was concerned that the districts could be unfair to businesses outside the districts that don’t receive the same advantages. Holub said he was concerned about the county and school districts being forced to forfeit future tax revenue for city projects.
When a TIF district is formed, property values in the district are recorded. The county and school districts will continue to receive taxes on the original value, but taxes on any increased value would be set aside to fund infrastructure improvements within the district.
Commissioners asked for clarification whether the cities could institute the districts without the county’s approval.
In other business:
- The commission met in closed session to discuss personnel for five minutes, before being joined by Planning and Zoning Director Tonya Richards for another 10 minutes of closed session. On return to open session, the commission announced Richards would receive a raise from $2,591 to $2,938 per month, beginning with the November pay period. The raise was for Richards serving in the position a full year and continuing training.
- Goessel City Council has asked the commission to attend the council’s meeting at 8 p.m. Dec. 16 to discuss roads in the vicinity of the city.
- Interim Deputy Appraiser Brian Frese received a temporary raise from $2,147 to $2,747 per month for his additional duties as interim deputy appraiser. Dallke asked how that compared to the pay range established for a deputy appraiser. Maggard looked it up, and found it was actually below the minimum of the pay range the county established.
- The commission met in closed session for 10 minutes to discuss land acquisition. No action was taken on return to open session.
- Cardie Oil Company of Tampa will provide 14,550 gallons of fuel to Road and Bridge Department for a total price of $42,543. Cooperative Grain and Supply of Hillsboro bid $43,949.
- Planning Commission member Kent Becker declined to serve another term on the board. Anyone in the 1st County Commission district — which includes Hillsboro, Durham, Lehigh, and the surrounding areas — interested in serving on the commission should contact Commissioner Bob Hein at (620) 947-3018.
The next commission meeting will be Monday.