(Spirit Lake)– Spirit Lake city council members are having second thoughts about a special election coming up next month. Voters will be asked whether or not the city should change the way proceeds from the Local Option Sales Tax are allocated, which would allow the city to put more of the revenue into its General Fund. Currently a portion of it is earmarked for “tax relief”.
But city council member Steve Balm says the election will be moot if the city goes ahead with plans to issue not to exceed a million dollars in Local Option Sales Tax Capital Loan Notes. A public hearing on that issue is set for February 21st.
Balm adds that questions over just exactly how to define “tax relief” are casting clouds over the March election. He says the language on the March 28th special election ballot is vague and according to several attorneys and accountants, could be interpreted in several different ways, some of which would actually defeat what they were hoping to accomplish.
As a result, Balm is urging fellow council members to take their time and not rush into anything.
Meanwhile, County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections Nancy Reiman says ballots have already been printed for the special election. She says she’s waiting for a legal opinion on whether or not the election could be canceled, even though it’s been authorized.
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