Town adds tax hike to budget proposal

Sparta town residents may be paying a 28 cent tax rate per $100 of valuation for the upcoming year, as opposed to the 27 cents that had been proposed during the council's May meeting, if the town's proposed budget is approved in its current form. The town's current tax rate is 26 cents, which means the proposed budget would result in a two-cent tax increase if approved.

The additional one-cent increase stems from an earlier conversation council members had regarding the possibility of having public restrooms along Main Street. That item, however, had not been included in the town's preliminary budget presented last month.

During a June 3 budget meeting, Town Manager Bryan Edwards explained, "If we decided to do that, that would require an additional one-cent increase, so our rate would be 28 cents. That money would go directly for that capital project to construct that restroom facility on Main Street."

According to Edwards, estimated construction cost of a public restroom would run between $12,000 and $15,000.

"We generate just over $12,000 with one cent," he said. Councilman Mike Parlier proposed that funds be allocated for the project this fiscal year as well as the 2009-10 fiscal year, which would fund construction of two restroom facilities along the town's Main Street corridor.

Kevin Dowell, Sparta's planning and code enforcement officer, said the town is looking at sites, including one at the town-owned parking area near the Sparta ABC Store.

Dowell noted the town lacks public restroom facilities and most merchants aren't equipped for people coming in off the street just to use the restroom.

 

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