The county commission met Thursday night at the courthouse to set tentative dates and times for public meetings on the proposal to increase the local option sales tax from 1.5% to 2.75%.
The issue will be decided by DeKalb County voters in a special election referendum on Thursday, May 17th. This will be a county wide election. Early voting will begin Friday, April 27th and end Saturday, May 12th.
On election day, May 17th, the polling places will open at 8 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
County Mayor Mike Foster says these meetings will give the public a chance to express their views and ask questions.
In addition to setting the dates for the public meetings, the commissioners also signed a pledge that they will vote to decrease the property tax rate by at least 19 cents at the beginning of the new budget year, if the sales tax increase is approved at the polls. That pledge with the signatures will be published in the local newspapers next week.
The wording on the ballot will read:
“SHALL RESOLUTION 21-2-2007-1 PASSED BY THE DEKALB COUNTY COMMISSION ON FEBRUARY 26, 2007 PROVIDING FOR AN INCREASE IN THE LOCAL SALES TAX FROM 1.5% TO 2.75% WITH ONE-HALF (1/2) REQUIRED BY LAW AND THE REMAINDER AS PER AGREEMENT CONTRACTS, BE APPROVED?
FOR___
AGAINST___
The public meetings will be held on the following dates, times, and locations, subject to availability of the meeting places:
First District-
Tuesday, April 17th – the DeKalb County Fairgrounds at 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, April 17th- Temperance Hall Community Center at 7:15 p.m.
Second District-
Thursday, April 12th- Liberty Community Center at 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, April 12th- Dowelltown Community Center at 7:00 p.m.
Third District-
Monday, April 16th- Smithville Church of God Annex at 6:00 p.m.
Monday, April 16th- Snow Hill Community Center (second district location) at 7:15 p.m.
Fourth District-
Thursday, April 19th- Cherry Hill Community Center at 6:00 p.m.
Rock Castle- (date, time, and location to be announced)
Fifth District-
Tuesday, April 24th- Courthouse (4th district location) at 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, April 24th-Johnson’s Chapel Community Center at 7:15 p.m.
Sixth District-
Friday, April 20th- Belk Community Center at 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 21st- Keltonburg Community Center at 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 21st- Blue Springs Community Center at 6:30 p.m.
Seventh District-
Monday, April 23rd- Church of Christ Annex at 5:30 p.m.
The public is invited to attend any or all of the community meetings.
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