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Benton County commissioners authorize probe into alleged low severance-tax payments by sand companies
Summary
The commission approved a resolution directing the county attorney to investigate why UNIMIN (now COVIA) paid minimal severance taxes and to draft possible bills; the measure passed by voice/roll-call with 15 Ayes and 2 Nays.
The Benton County Commission voted Jan. 21 to authorize the county attorney to investigate why two sand companies, previously operating as UNIMIN and now as COVIA, appear to have paid minimal severance taxes to local counties.
The resolution (20200121-01), sponsored by Commissioners Ronnie Hopper, Ward Plant and Rocky Presson, tasks County Attorney Shon Johnson to determine why UNIMIN/COVIA do not have a county account, to prepare proposed severance-tax bills for the companies and to reach out to state Sen. John Stevens. The resolution was approved on a roll-call basis reported in the meeting as 15 Ayes and 2 Nays.
Why it matters: The sponsors cited large sand and aggregate operations in Benton County and neighboring Carroll County and said those operations extract material that typically triggers severance taxes for local governments. The resolution cites reported severance-tax receipts from other firms (for 2018) and claims UNIMIN paid $178 to Benton County in 2018 while COVIA currently had no county account.
What was said: The resolution text states that the companies load freight cars and trucks and estimates production and potential weekly severance-tax amounts; it directs the county attorney to pursue clarity and possible billing. The commission did not adopt any tax or fine at the meeting; it only authorized the attorney to investigate and report back.
Next steps: The county attorney was authorized to inquire, prepare draft bills and contact Sen. John Stevens. The resolution does not specify a timeline for the attorney's work or a follow-up hearing.
Reported votes and sponsors: Resolution 20200121-01 passed with a reported tally of 15 Ayes and 2 Nays. Sponsors listed in the resolution were Ronnie Hopper, Ward Plant and Rocky Presson. County Attorney Shon Johnson was named as the official to carry out the inquiry.
