Changes sought on sales tax proposal

Commissioners generally agreed with staff recommendations on what projects to tackle if voters approve a new infrastructure sales tax in November.

Mayor Mike Dever and Commissioners Rob Chestnut and Boog Highberger, however, did ask staff members to look at tweaking how the proposal deals with purchasing new fire equipment. The trio said they would rather come up with a way to issue about $500,000 in bonds each year for new fire equipment purchases instead of using sales tax money.

Staff members had recommended using sales tax money for the fire equipment purchases because it could be a more certain revenue source for the equipment needs.

The bulk of the sales tax money is proposed for street replacement and maintenance.