Clay County workshop sees strong public opposition as commissioners weigh utility tax increase

At a July 8 Clay County Board of County Commissioners workshop, residents urged commissioners to reject a proposed raise in the county's utility service tax or to narrow its scope, saying the increase would hit seniors and lower-income households hardest. County staff presented revenue estimates and said the proposal would appear on the board's agenda for a vote later that day at 5 p.m.

Many public commenters described fixed incomes and rising household costs and asked the board to designate any new revenue specifically for public safety instead of leaving the funds undesignated. Kenneth Remson, a retired math teacher, told the board, "a utility tax like this is a regressive tax, meaning that it's a tax that, basically lower income people pay a higher percentage of their overall income too." Other speakers called for alternatives, questioned why new development and property taxes could not…