Voters in rural Greene County will once again be asked to change the purpose statement for the county’s local options sales & services tax (LOSST) revenues.
The county board of supervisors at their Aug. 5 meeting approved a resolution placing on the Nov. 5 ballot the same question that was on the ballot for a special election last March. Voters will be asked to approve a statement that the revenue would be used 100 percent for “any lawful purpose,” deleting “property tax relief.”
Only voters in the unincorporated portions of the county will see that question on their ballot. Last March, voters nixed the question, with 88 “no” votes and 73 “yes” votes.
Allowing LOSST revenue to be used for other purposes than property tax relief would allow the county to sell general obligation bonds to fund a much-needed update of the HVAC system at the 106-year-old courthouse, with payment of the bonds to come from LOSST revenue.
However, a second question on the ballot, Proposition L, failed by a vote of 88 “no” votes to 73 “yes” votes. That proposition did not remove the sunset date, but stated the same proposed use for the revenue – 100 percent for any lawful purpose.
The change in the revenue purpose statement was to ensure that general obligation bonds could be sold with LOSST revenue as the source of repayment. The GO bonds are needed to install an updated HVAC system at the courthouse.
Supervisor Dawn Rudolph encouraged her fellow supervisors to work on publicity and education about the proposal prior to the election.
