Property owners may have the opportunity to vote for tax relief
Pierce County property owners may have the opportunity to vote themselves some property tax relief this fall.
The county commissioners were to consider placing the Floating Local Option Sales Tax (FLOST) on the November ballot. The item was on the agenda at last night’s (Tuesday, July 8) commission meeting (after The Times’ deadline). A report on the meeting will be included in the July 16 edition of The Times.
The county commission meeting is delayed a week due to the Independence Day holiday. County Chairman Neal Bennett said the proceeds for the FLOST would be dedicated strictly to property tax relief.
“The revenue can’t be used for anything else,” he said. “It has to go solely to property tax relief.”
The Floating Local Option Sales Tax (FLOST) is a new sales tax which can be levied up to one percent and collected countywide. Funds are split between the county and cities of Blackshear and Patterson based upon an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) and used for property tax relief. Offerman does not levy property taxes, so it will not be part of the IGA.
The tax can be approved for up to five years and revenues will be used to lower property taxes and millage rates.
The referendum, if approved by the county commission and cities of Blackshear and Patterson, will be on the Nov. 4 general election ballot along with the special general election for two public service commission seats.
