Williston extends 1% parks sales tax, approves joint powers agreement with Parks and Recreation District

The Williston Board of City Commissioners on July 22 voted unanimously to extend a one percent sales and use tax dedicated to the Williston Parks and Recreation District and to approve an amended Joint Powers Agreement between the city and the district.

City Attorney Taylor Olson presented Ordinance 1166 during its second reading, describing several non‑material drafting edits requested by staff and the City’s bond counsel — including renumbering subsections for codification, inserting the statutory effective‑date clause, adding a severability sentence, and correcting punctuation. Olson said, “None of these edits change the rate, purpose, duration, or authorized uses of the tax, nor do they alter any voter‑approved language or legal obligations.” The commission approved the ordinance 5–0.

Separately, Olson asked the commission to approve an Amended and Reinstated Joint Powers Agreement between the City of Williston and the Williston Parks and Recreation District and to authorize the mayor and city auditor to execute it, allowing the City Attorney’s office to make any minor final edits. That motion also passed 5–0.

Why it matters: the 1% tax funds the Williston Parks and Recreation District’s authorized uses and helps secure revenue for parks and recreation operations and projects. The minutes note that staff inserted a statutory effective‑date clause; the record does not specify an exact calendar effective date beyond the statutory language included in the ordinance.

The commission did not record any amendments to the ordinance’s rate, purpose, duration, or voter‑approved uses during the meeting. Next steps are routine execution of the joint powers agreement as authorized and any ministerial codification required to implement the ordinance.