Sales tax: Cities deserve local option tool

The Clarion-Ledger Editorial, 2/19/9

Once again, the Legislature is throwing up roadblocks to keep citizens in local communities from having the option to levy a local sales tax to finance projects those citizens deem beneficial.

House Bill 1622 would authorize municipalities to add a 1 percent sales tax on most items – excluding hotels, restaurants, groceries, prescription drugs, automobiles or farm equipment – with the approval of 60 percent of the voters in a referendum.

Revenue from the tax would be required to be spent on public safety, road improvements, economic development or other specific purposes and the local sales tax would end upon the completion of the project, which would be clearly spelled out in the referendum vote.