Village adopts municipal grocery retailer occupational tax as state funding shifts

The Village of Dalton Board of Trustees on Aug. 4 adopted Ordinance 25-007 to implement a municipal grocery retailer’s occupational tax, a change officials said is required because the state’s version of the revenue was removed from the state budget.

Mayor House and trustees explained that the municipal ordinance transfers responsibility to collect the tax to the village in place of the former state-level collection. “There'll be no net increase to the residents of Dalton or to those who are visiting our community. It will still remain flat. It's just a different entity that will be issuing the tax,” the mayor said. Trustees noted an October deadline for municipalities to decide whether to adopt the tax locally.

Why it matters: Officials said the revenue supports municipal services and that many other jurisdictions are expected to vote on similar actions. Some residents asked about the local effect on grocers and whether revenue could be targeted first to retailers with alcohol or gambling machines; the board’s response noted the change follows state budget actions and is not a new tax in amount.

Supporting details: Trustees passed the ordinance by roll call (motion by Trustee Kiana Belcher; second by Trustee Brittany Norwood). No specific local rate was debated at the meeting; trustees framed the move as preserving existing revenue flows now administered by the village.

Next steps: Ordinance implementation and administrative steps to begin local collection will be coordinated by village finance staff; trustees said they expect other municipalities to consider similar ordinances before the October deadline.

Ending: Trustees said staff will provide details on implementation mechanics and work with retailers to explain the transition.