FAYETTEVILLE -- The Washington County Election Commission on Monday approved ballots for special elections in Farmington and Greenland.
Voters will decide whether to approve 1 percent sales and use taxes during special elections June 13. The revenue will pay for bonds for citywide improvements.
Greenland city officials hope voters will approve the tax to pay for wastewater system improvements, Mayor Bill Groom said.
"It's not a huge system, but it's a lifeline for our little community if we're ever going to grow," he said.
Roughly 350 homes are on Greenland's system, but the city doesn't have the capacity to add to the system, Groom said. Most of the proposed tax's revenue would be from travelers who stop in Greenland at convenience stores, he said.
The revenue will pay for construction improvements to the city's wastewater collection and transmission system, according to information filed with the County Clerk's office.
Fayetteville operates and maintains Greenland's system but cannot improve it, Groom said. Greenland city officials plan to use the expected $120,000 annual revenue from the tax to take out a maximum bond of roughly $1.5 million, Groom said.
The tax would sunset when the bonds are paid off in 15 to 20 years, Groom said.
Fayetteville and Greenland had talked about Fayetteville taking over the system, but that discussion has died out, Groom said. Residents need to fix the system now to save money long term, he said.
"We are trying to be preemptive," Groom said about the tax. "I think folks are pretty savvy. When they realize they can pay a little bit now or a whole lot later, I think they realize paying a little bit now is the better way to go."
Farmington city officials want the tax to replace one that will expire this year. The tax brings in roughly $688,000 for the city to pay for a sewer bond, said Melissa McCarville, city business manager.
If voters approve, half the revenue from the new tax will pay off new bonds for improvements to the city's streets and parks and recreation. The other half will be used for the city's general operations.
The city plans to take out a maximum of about $5.1 million in bonds. The new tax will be permanent.
NW News on 04/18/2017