Snowflake council approves first reading of sales-tax change and hears public concerns about cost and safety

The Town of Snowflake Council on Jan. 4 approved the first reading of Ordinance 2022-01, a proposal to modify the town’s sales tax structure and to enact a use tax that the town does not currently have.

Joe Jarvis, presenting the ordinance, told the council the change "would not change until July 1, 2022" and that the proposal "would also enact a use tax, which does not currently exist." Council opened the item for public comment and discussion before voting.

The measure was framed by public-safety needs. Chief Martin said his department "needs 6 officers above what is currently considered to be fully staffed in the budget," reporting that the department’s current staffing falls well short of what he called full coverage. Chief Nelson also described increasing emergency-medical demands, saying that all three ambulances were at the hospital at the same time on the day of the meeting.

Town Manager Brian Richards told the council the additional revenue would go into the general fund to support services including police and fire, and he contrasted sales-tax revenue with property- or fire-district taxes. Richards noted that Snowflake and neighboring Taylor are among the few nearby communities without a property tax or fire-district tax, describing the proposal as a move to a consumption-based revenue stream.

Public commenters raised questions about fairness and effectiveness. Robb Hatch asked which businesses make up a cited "$450,000 difference" and suggested consolidating services with neighboring Taylor to share costs; Lou C warned that higher taxes could change the town’s character and urged fiscal restraint. Louise Liggett questioned whether a fire district was warranted in the area and suggested a smaller, half-percent increase; Richards replied that a half-percent would "not provide nearly enough." Mark Schein, who described himself as a recent tech transplant, said shoring up police and fire services "is noble" and argued the town must balance growth and safety, while noting lower-income residents could be hardest hit by a sales-tax increase.

Council members discussed long-term approaches to attracting businesses, including broadband expansion and other development efforts, and acknowledged competing community preferences about growth. After discussion, the council voted to approve the ordinance on first reading by title only; the motion passed unanimously with Councilmembers Cory Johnson and Allison Perkins recorded as absent.

Ordinance 2022-01 will remain on the council’s agenda for subsequent procedural steps required for final adoption.