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Western County commissioner outlines November use-tax measure and proposed levy rollback
Summary
Western County Commissioner Johnny Williams briefed the board on the county's Nov. 4 ballot question to authorize a 1.5% use tax on certain out-of-state purchases and described a planned county property-tax levy rollback if voters approve the measure.
County Commissioner Johnny Williams made a guest presentation describing a Western County November 4 ballot question that would authorize a county use tax of 1.5% on certain out-of-state purchases. Williams explained the county’s rationale is to capture sales made to county residents by out-of-state vendors and to shift county revenue reliance from property tax to consumption-based tax revenue; he said several cities on the county’s western side had already enacted similar measures for their municipal portions.
Williams said the county commission proposed to roll back the county’s property-tax levy significantly if the use tax passes, giving an example of reducing the county portion of the levy from roughly 0.44% to 0.01% (a large rollback described in the presentation) and framed the plan as returning taxation to a consumption base. He also responded to questions about the Hancock Amendment, explaining a levy can be rolled back but that local decisions and audit formulas govern future levy changes.
Alderman Galloway voiced support for the county’s effort in comments from the dais, saying that the measure would help level the competitive field between local businesses that collect local sales taxes and remote sellers that do not. Commissioner Williams offered to answer follow-up questions by email or staff contact.
No city action was required; this was an informational presentation by a county official.
