Logan County Board votes to put half-cent public safety tax on March ballot

[December 21, 2017] 

LINCOLN

On Tuesday, December 19, the Logan County Board held its Regular Board meeting voting on several motions and resolutions. One focus of discussion was a possible half-cent public safety tax increase to pay for courthouse dome repairs and the expansion of the Safety Complex.

At November's meeting, the board voted to put a $15 million bond referendum on the March ballot.

At Tuesday's meeting Building and Grounds Chairman Kevin Bateman made a motion to rescind the previous bond referenda that was voted on November 21, 2017 at the Regular Board and it was unanimously approved by the eleven members present.

Bateman then made a motion for an Ordinance providing for and requiring the submission to the voters of Logan County at the general primary election to be held on the 20th day of March, 2018, a proposition to impose an increase of a half-cent to the present public safety sales tax. This amount is half of a one-cent sales tax that would only be used for public safety purpose, which means 50 cents would be collected with a purchase of $100.

Ruben said the tax increase will fund a bond to help pay for courthouse dome repairs and fund the expansion of the Safety Complex.

Board member Gene Rohlfs asked if that was the language that was proposed. He wanted to how voters would know what the public safety tax increase on the ballot was for. Rohlfs asked if language could be added to explain what the tax will be used for.

County Clerk and Recorder Sally Turner said the language was "directly taken from the statute for the safety tax" and did not think language could be added. She said it would be up to board members to talk to people about it as they did when the original public safety tax was on the ballot.

State's Attorney Jonathan Wright said a bond council puts together the language.

Board Chairman Chuck Ruben said he would have Turner call the bond attorney to ask about adding language

Rohlfs said it would be helpful to add a paragraph to the ballots saying the "major use [of the tax] is the repair of the Courthouse and dome and to increase jail capacity and security as mandated by the state."

Ruben said he agreed it would be great to put that information in there, but they just may not able to. He said when they passed the tax for the first half-cent, the board was told there was specific language that had to go in. There was no language added to the ballot for the last increase.

Ruben said the board needs to reach out to people to make them aware of what the increase is for.

Board member Scott Schaffenacker asked if the wording could be changed to Public Buildings Sales Tax.

Bateman said people in the county already pay a safety tax, so it is not a new tax. It is just adding one-half cent to the one-half cent public safety tax people currently pay. He said changing it to Public Building Sales Tax might make people think the tax can be spent for any building.

Rohlfs motioned to add language about the courthouse dome and jail expansion if it is "legally allowable." Rohlf's amended motion passed unanimously.

Bateman's main motion for an ordinance to be voted on in March proposing the increase of a half-cent to the present public safety sales tax also passed unanimously.

Anything going on the ballot will have to be in by January 2.

Bateman is meeting with engineers this week to discuss the dome repairs. He has been talking to the county's insurance agents about whether some of problems with the dome were exacerbated by a lightning strike this summer.

The board then approved two other items related to the dome repair and jail expansion, Buildings and Grounds Chairman Kevin Bateman's motion to expend $158,000 to remove the stained-glass portion of the dome and put up Plexiglas was unanimously approved.

Board Chairman Chuck Ruben said the funding will come from the Airport/Farm fund.

Bateman asked if the $158,000 would go back into that account if a one-half cent sales tax passes.

Ruben said it would be appropriate if they could put that money back into the account at some future date.

Bateman's motion to expend up to $15,000 out of the same account for engineering plans for the jail facility was also unanimously approved.

Sheriff Steve Nichols said right now, the office is doing a feasibility study on expanding the safety complex "if that is the course we take." He is working with the same company that did a jail expansion for Crawford County, and that was Crawford County's cost for plans. Nichols will know more after he talks to the company on Wednesday.

Eleven board members were present: Kevin Bateman, Dave Blankenship, Janet Dahmm, Bob Farmer, David Hepler, Gloria Luster, Gene Rohlfs, Bob Sanders, Scott Schaffenacker and Annette Welch, with Board Chairman Chuck Ruben presiding. Emily Davenport was absent.

[Angela Reiners]