City of Sparta to Offer Sales Tax Public Referendum

The Sparta Board of Aldermen and Mayor approved the first reading of a request for a public referendum to increase the city sales tax.

Former City Administrator Chris Dorsey said the increase from 2.25% to 2.75% would provide funds for road repairs.

The Sparta Board of Aldermen and Mayor passed the first reading of an ordinance creating a public referendum regarding sales tax Thursday.

“In every county around us, it is already at nine and 3 quarters, you know some people save on it. I don’t know if you want to vote for it or not,” Dorsey said. “But take it to Cookeville, you are already paying for it. Go to McMinnville, you are already paying the extra half-cent. And every other week, I get a call or two about the condition of some of the roads.”

Mayor Jeff Young said the majority of calls he receives deal with road complaints.

“Most cases we most absolutely agree with these folks that it needs to be fixed but there is not enough revenue in our finances to do this. And we have tried this once before, it takes a long time to educate folks on what we are going to use this tax money for,” Young said. “This is not like a property tax where everyone just has to pay that if you own property. This is a sales tax.”

The board attempted to increase the sales tax three years ago. Dorsey said the referendum would give the citizens another chance to vote on the increase.

“And I ask them, ‘you know we tried three years ago for a funding mechanism to do this,'” Dorsey said. “And they say, ‘I didn’t know there was a chance to vote for this.’ A lot of people weren’t educated or weren’t aware of the fact that this is self-determination for them to vote on.”

Public Works Director Dillard Quick said past road projects exceed $350,000.

“At the time, a mile of road was around 225 to 275. It kind of depends on oil prices,” Dillard said. “Like I said, the prices we have right now are very good, compared to what we did three years ago.  So we are getting more bang for our buck, but it kind of varies.”

The current budget for the fiscal year 2019-2020 contains no property tax increase. Dorsey said the property tax could increase in the future to secure funds.

The board will allow public comment on the ordinance before the second reading is conducted.