Mayfield holds public hearing on reauthorizing Recreation, Arts and Parks sales tax

The Mayfield Town Council opened a public hearing Oct. 8 on reauthorizing the town’s Recreation, Arts and Parks (RAP) sales tax, which officials said was first adopted in 2013 and must be reauthorized by voters because it is a tax.

Speaker 2 told the meeting that the RAP levy is framed in the outreach packet as “one penny on every $10” in taxable sales. Packet material presented to the council lists cumulative regional collections for the county since 2013 and shows Mayfield’s share. The packet also included a sample ballot indicating the question will appear as a proposition (listed in the packet as “Proposition 2”).

Members of the public and a member of the town’s recreation board (Speaker 6) asked how the tax appears on the ballot and who pays it. Speaker 6 described the tax as an ongoing, previously collected revenue stream that the reauthorization would preserve, not a new tax increase; council members confirmed the measure will be placed before voters and that the tax is levied at points of sale in jurisdictions where it is authorized, which can include purchases by non‑residents in neighboring towns.

The hearing concluded after clarifications about ballot language, drop‑off and receipt deadlines for mail ballots, and an explanation from staff on how ballots will be distributed. No formal council action was taken at the hearing stage; the matter will appear on the upcoming ballot for voter consideration.