Baxter staff to draft sales-tax extension resolution for January to fund water, wastewater and road projects

City staff told the Baxter City Council that they will prepare a sales-tax extension package for special legislation and for voter consideration, identifying up to five discrete projects that would appear on the ballot question.

Proposal scope and mechanics

Staff said the proposed authorization will focus on four core areas: water-system improvements, wastewater-system improvements, traffic and roadway improvements (including roundabout and intersection work), and replacement of sewer/water out to the airport plus funds for law enforcement facilities and related city-hall furnishings. Because special legislation requires projects be clearly identified to legislative tax chairs, staff will return to the council with a resolution at the first meeting in January that spells out specific project descriptions and dollar amounts.

Council reaction and fiscal context

Councilors discussed the need for flexibility and the challenge of financing large wastewater plant costs (staff noted roughly $54 million of wastewater projects were identified as the city's share in an earlier study). Several councilors emphasized the local burden of property-tax increases and supported explaining the city's infrastructure needs to state legislators and tax chairs. Members signaled general support for preparing the resolution and documentation for an early-January submittal.

Next steps

Staff will draft the special-legislation package and an accompanying council resolution for the Jan. 6 meeting so the city can present the proposal to the tax chairs for initial review; project lists on the ballot will need specific dollar amounts when the legislation and ballot language are drafted.