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Committee rejects bill limiting county use of optional sales tax for public safety
Summary
The Senate committee voted down House Bill 162 (6th substitute), a proposal to restrict how counties in classes 3–6 may use an optional 30-basis-point local sales tax, after extended public comment from rural county officials who said the change would strain budgets and school safety funding.
The Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy and Technology Standing Committee voted 1–6 on a motion to favorably recommend House Bill 162 (6th substitute), which would limit how certain counties may use an optional 0.30 percentage-point local sales and use tax originally authorized last year.
Representative Shipp, the bill sponsor, told the committee HB 162 would put “guardrails” around an option some counties have used for public safety and capital projects, and would require counties in classes 3 through 6 to phase out use of the sales tax for ongoing operations, salaries and maintenance over a three‑year runway. He said the purpose was to preserve sales tax for one‑time capital…
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