Miller County commission approves placing 1% sales-and-use tax question on November ballot; signs agreements, conveys county building

The Miller County Commission voted at its regular August meeting to place a referendum on the November ballot asking voters to authorize a 1 percent sales and use tax for five years within a special district of Miller County.

The ballot language presented to the commission (in the meeting packet) reads in part: “Shall a 1 percent of sales and use tax be imposed for 5 years within the special district of Miller County with the proceeds used exclusively [as described in the packet]?” Commissioners approved putting the question on the ballot by voice vote and the chairman was authorized to sign the resolution so it may be published and submitted by the September 1 deadline, a staff member told the commission. Staff estimated roughly $4,000,000 over the five-year period in revenue (estimate as stated in the packet).

Commissioners handled several administrative items during the meeting. They approved a memorandum of understanding and a related draft ordinance language from EDF Lightyear on a proposed solar project for the county but took no final action; staff said they will re-review the MOU and ordinance language and respond to the company in September. The board voted to sign a government agreement for the P25 radio communications system with the city (the county attorney/staff asked commissioners to sign the document if there were no further edits). The commission also approved a contract update with the air medical service identified in the packet as Survival Flight (packet language) under which the county’s annual payment would rise from $18,000 to $25,000 this year, with subsequent 3 percent annual increases described in the meeting discussion; commissioners authorized county staff to sign the agreement.

After convening an executive session on real estate and personnel, the commission reconvened in open session and voted to transfer (the packet term) the current County Commission Building to the hospital authority; the motion passed by voice vote. The meeting concluded with routine approvals of the agenda, minutes and financial reports.

Votes at a glance - Motion to place 1% sales-and-use tax referendum on the November ballot: approved by voice vote; chairman authorized to sign resolution for publication and filing. (Ballot language and the packet estimate of ~$4,000,000 over five years were provided to the commission.) - EDF Lightyear solar project: no final action; MOU and draft ordinance to be reviewed and staff to respond in September. - P25 radio government agreement with the city: commissioners authorized signing the agreement; no roll-call recorded in the minutes excerpt. - Air medical (Survival Flight) agreement: commissioners authorized signing; packet discussion said the annual county payment would increase from $18,000 to $25,000 this year and then increase 3% annually as reflected in the draft. - Transfer of the County Commission Building to the hospital authority: motion approved by voice vote following executive session.

Commissioners and staff did not provide roll-call vote tallies in the meeting excerpt; approvals were recorded as passed by voice vote. The resolution authorizing the referendum must be published and filed before the September 1 deadline staff cited.

The meeting packet included the draft ballot question and supporting materials; commission members directed staff to continue reviewing contract language for the solar project and to finalize the paperwork and signatures needed to place the tax question on the ballot.

(Reported from the Miller County Commission regular session; meeting packet excerpts and in-meeting statements cited.)