Overton Commissioners To Consider Sales Tax Referendum

Overton County Commissioners will once again consider a referendum to increase sales tax, a long-term approach to potentially increase revenue.

A referendum, if approved, would not appear on the ballot until next year. Commissioner Gregg Nivens proposed an increase from 9.5 percent to 9.75 percent. Nivens said a sales tax increase would allow them to get more of their revenue from people outside of the county.

“The sales tax is probably the most fair tax you’ve got,” Nivens said. “Everybody comes in, people from tourism comes in here from the state. That’s the most fair tax that we’ve got. Property tax, that’s not a fair tax.”

Nivens said he was unsure if the increase would be sufficient to fully replace a proposed increase in property taxes. The commission passed a motion to add a sales tax referendum as a resolution to consider in their July meeting.

Nivens said a sales tax would also give locals more control with their finances.

“I can choose on a sales tax,” Nivens said. “I can choose to go out here and eat steak and shrimp or I can choose to go out here and buy corn, beans, and bread – beans and corn bread and eat it. You can affect that, but we’ll be getting that in from everybody.”

Nivens said the county tried to increase sales taxes two or three years ago, but the referendum failed to pass.

Chairman Darwin Clark said the referendum, if passed in July, would not be on the ballot this year.

“It won’t be in November,” Clark said. “It’ll be the next election.”