Advance voting began last week in Lyon County, and for most county residents, there is one major issue on the ballot — the 1-cent countywide sales tax.
The purpose of the tax, as stated by the Lyon County Commission is broad, but not vague. The revenue from the tax will be used to replace property taxes, replacing one source of county income with another.
That’s clear enough, but there are still some confusing points.
Last week, in its first attempt to assemble a budget, the commission was told that the budget as it stood would require a 5-mill increase in property taxes. That was without figuring in a sales tax.
Just a week earlier, the commission committed the county to providing $10,000 to help support a public fireworks display on the Fourth of July. The announcement was welcomed by many people. Few since have connected the dots and asked why the county is committing itself to a new expense — one it has never before seen the need to incur — at the same time it is touting the need for a sales tax to keep property taxes down and struggling to bring the 2009 budget down to a level that will keep property taxes at reasonable levels.
In its second pass at the budget last week, the commission trimmed the likely increase by almost 3 mills. Among the expenses cut from the first budget was 1 mill of support for the road and bridge department, which will mean less money available to repair and maintain those county roads and bridges.
Certainly, $10,000 for fireworks will not make a great deal of difference in property taxes. A 1-mill tax raises $239,000. But the commission’s vote, combined with its budget struggles, sends a confusing message about property taxes and the sales tax plan.
The commissioners approved the sales-tax proposal in a rush without providing an opportunity for public comment. Since the proposal was placed on the August ballot, the commission has done little to explain its reasoning to the public.
The commission seems to be following the reasoning of Commissioner Bob Davis, who flatly rejected the idea of public hearings on the proposed tax.
“You’re not elected to listen,” Davis said. “You’re elected to do.”
That is a matter of opinion. But the opinions that matter now are those of the voters, who have the final say.
The sales tax may be a good idea, but the commission needs to do more than say, “Take it or leave it.” The commissioners must make a compelling case for accepting the tax.
They avoided public debate on the issue before putting the tax on the ballot, but they should not avoid talking about it now.
Their job now is not “to do,” but to sell their idea if they want the tax to pass.
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