02/10/97 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Session 1687, Minutes February 10, 1997 OTHER BUSINESS - USE TAX Mayor Adams stated that a letter was received from the County Municipal League dealing with the use tax. A survey was sent out and he and the City Manager were interested in getting the Council's feeling on this issue. The results will be returned to the County Municipal League. The City Manager explained that the question the Municipal League was interested in was: "Do you and a majority of your municipality's officials strongly support the resubmission to the voters of the county wide local use tax?". Mr. Lieberman reported that he was serving on the Municipal League's committee on use tax and that at their last meeting more questions were raised than answers. Issues raised were questions on current and future legislation, how County government feels about it and getting a general idea of what citizens feel about it. The $2,000 minimum of goods that could be purchased out of state, like computers, doesn't have to have taxes paid on it and is bringing up interesting problems and questions. He is not personally prepared at this time to recommend a positive Council action. Mayor Adams further asked Mr. Lieberman whether he would be in favor of the concept, not necessarily the particulars. Mr. Lieberman said yes. Mr. Lieberman further commented that the County was generally favorable because of the infusion of tax dollars that the use tax brings in, but that did not mean that it would be a popular item on the ballot. Mayor Adams noted that many areas of the state had approved it, such as Kansas City. Mr. Wagner stated that he agreed with Mr. Lieberman. He thinks that any chance we have to take the burden off of real estate taxes is good. He is willing to let the voters decide whether or not they want the use tax. General consensus of Council was to support resubmitting the use tax. Mayor Adams adjourned the meeting at 8:07 p.m.