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Sanpete Countyproposal for 1% 'rural health' sales tax to fund E911 discussed at Manti meeting
Summary
Councilors heard staff explain Sanpete County's plan to place a 1% local 'rural health' sales-and-use tax on the ballot to fund E911/dispatch; officials said most grocery staples would remain exempt and that, if the tax fails, municipalities could impose per-meter fees estimated at $7—$11 per household per month.
City manager Jason Brown briefed the Manti City Council on a Sanpete County proposal to use a local-option 'rural health' sales-and-use tax of up to 1% to fund emergency dispatch (E911) and related services. Brown said the measure would be placed on the ballot after county action and that, by statute, qualified grocery staples would generally be exempt while prepared foods and most nonfood retail purchases would be subject to the additional 1%.
Brown told council members the county has absorbed rising dispatch costs to date but projected a substantial increase that the county could not absorb alone. If county voters decline the tax, Brown said the alternative would be to allocate the county’s dispatch share to municipalities as a monthly per-meter fee; staff estimates discussed at the meeting ranged from about $7 to $11 per household per month.
Councilors and staff emphasized outreach: the county plans to hold additional informational meetings and town halls before the ballot. Brown said the county could adopt the authorizing resolution in mid-August and that 45 days of notice is required before placement on the ballot. Council members asked staff to help inform local residents about the proposal and alternatives.
