HomeMy WebLinkAboutMUNICIPAL SALES TAX (MOST) RESOLUTION
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RESOLUTION
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF MUNICIPAL OPTION SALES TAX
(MOST).
WHEREAS, Augusta-Richmond County desires to maintain a high level of services and
benefits for its citizens without having to increase property taxes and to offer its voters the option
to decide, by referendum vote, whether some of the funding for these services should be
provided by an additional one cent ($0.01) sales tax, known as a Municipal Option Sales Tax
(MOST); and
WHEREAS, property tax revenues currently fund a substantial portion of the Augusta-
Richmond County budget; and
WHEREAS, Augusta-Richmond County desires to provide relief to property tax payers
by requiring thirty-four percent (34%) of the MOST revenue to go towards a rollback of property
taxes (after the General Fund Balance is replenished to sixty 60 days of operating expense
revenues); and
WHEREAS, based on previous sales tax figures in Augusta-Richmond County, the
MOST would generate an estimate of$30 million to $35 million in annual collections; and
WHEREAS, Augusta-Richmond County desires to use such funds for the following
specific purposes and hereby sets forth the percentage of collections to be allocated to each such
purpose:
Designation
Percentage
Replenish the fund balance to 60 days of operating expense reserves and
Rollback property taxes
34%
Law Enforcement
23%
Fire Department
17%
Transit Department
17%
Capital Outlay Replacement
9%
Total
100%
and;
WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Augusta-Richmond County Commission to make
known to the Georgia State Legislators and the public, its strong desire to allow the voters of
Augusta-Richmond County to decide whether to pass a one cent ($0.01) Municipal Option Sales
Tax to be used for the purposes provided herein; and
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NOW, THEREFORE, THE COMMISSION OF AUGUSTA-RICHMOND COUNTY,
GEORGIA HEREBY RESOLVES that they support the implementation of a referendum for the
voters of Augusta to determine whether to pass a one cent ($0.01) Municipal Option Sales Tax,
to be used for the purposes described herein; and
THE COMMISSION OF AUGUSTA-RICHMOND COUNTY, GEORGIA HEREBY
FURTHER RESOLVES and hereby requests that the Augusta Legislative Delegation submit this
request to the Georgia State Legislators.
Adopted this J1!day of January, 2010.
AUGUSTA-RICHMOND COUNTY, GEORGIA
By: dl:.J.~. C. ~
David S. Cope~e;
As its Mayor