White Co Commission Approves Sales Tax Increase Referendum

White County voters will decide if the sales tax rate within the county will increase next year.

The county commission approved a referendum to bump the rate to 9.75 percent. County Executive Denny Wayne Robinson said if passed, the rate would match Sparta’s.

“It makes it more fair for the people of White County, because most of the people in White County pay that (city) tax,” Robinson said. “They are paying that tax right now, but they are getting no say so on how it is spent, because it is all going to the city. This diverts some of it to the county.”

Robinson said the half point percent would bring about $500,000 extra to the county. Robinson said he is pushing for a March special-called election date, but it depends on the county’s election commission.

“The state uses the county rate as the official tax rate. That is how the money is divvied up,” Robinson said. “So the county’s official rate is 9.25. The majority of your sales tax is collected inside the city of Sparta, and the city of Sparta charges 9.75. So that extra point five percent goes straight to the city.”

Robinson said the referendum has been considered once before, but the people voted against the increase.

“We’ve discussed this for years,” Robinson said. “It was on the ballot during a regular election, and most people at that time are worried about the person for the job. So that will be a special-called election.”