Washington County to consult cities before sales tax renewal

The Washington County Board of Supervisors approved its first of at least two readings for an ordinance renewal that would maintain the county’s local-option sales tax through 2032.

“At the present time, all of the cities … in Washington have a local option sales and service tax with no sunset, no end date, except for two which are Brighton and Riverside,” County Auditor Dan Widmer said. “Those need to be renewed and we decided … to go ahead and name all of the towns in Washington County as well as the unincorporated towns.”

County Treasurer Jeff Garrett said local government could expect to see just under half the revenues from its 1% tax ordinance.

“The last time I looked at the numbers was about 2013, but at that time the county actually received about 44% of all the tax collected in the county,” he said.

While the board approved the ordinance’s first reading at their meeting Tuesday morning, members pledged to consult with city officials in Brighton and Riverside before following through. The ordinance also requires at least one more reading at the next board meeting, and a possible third depending on public input.

“If there was a sunset on theirs, they should vote to extend it, not us telling them to,” Supervisor Jack Seward Jr. said. “We just need to know that Riverside and Brighton agree … I’d like to see it in black and white before we go ahead and do this to them.”

The vote to approve the first reading was 4-1, with Supervisor Marcus Fedler voting against.

“The state currently has a $1.2 billion surplus, and all their rainy day funds,” he said. “They don’t need any more money from us. We only get 44% back, it seems kind of ridiculous to me giving them more money they don’t need.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com