MAYVILLE – Prior to the legislature’s vote to table a measure requesting a sales tax increase, a member of the Jamestown City Council spoke out against the measure during the public comment portion of the meeting. Jamestown city councilman Vince DeJoy was critical of the bill for stating that it would end the county’s obligation to hold local municipalities harmless the impact of the sales tax exemption for regarding residential energy. DeJoy said it was disingenuous for the county to no longer wish to reimburse the municipalities the money they no longer receive because of the exemption.
In response, County Executive Greg Edwards said it was frustrating because of the lack of knowledge with the issue. He said that even though the energy taxes were no longer being collected, the county was still obligated to reimburse that money and as a result, it’s $2.1 million that comes out of the county’s general operating budget.
The issue may be moot at this point, since the resolution was tabled and may not be voted on next month – if lawmakers in Albany decide to increase the maximum sales tax rate to 8 percent.
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