The City of Plymouth joined Bourbon, Culver and LaPaz in sending a resolution in support of the implementation of a Local Highway Opinion User Tax (LOHUT) and or a County Economic Development Income Tax (CEDIT).
During a special Common Council meeting Wednesday evening a resolution was presented requesting the council to indicate their support for a LOHUT, CEDIT or both.
Marshall County Commissioner Kevin Overmyer spoke in favor of a sustainable way to fund roads, whether county or city and noted that the County Highway Department would be in the red by about a half million dollars in 2017.
Overmyer said, “Last year we (commissioners) asked the County Council to consider implementation of a LOHUT tax of $25 and a Surtax of $40 but the council took no action.” He continued, “We are asking the communities in Marshall County to show the county council their support for one or both taxes.”
Jerry Chavez, Executive Director of the Marshall County Economic Development Corporation told City Council members the tax could raise a max of $2.2 million. Those funds would be shared with other taxing entities in the county. The additional funds would be used for projects outside of daily operating costs such as job training, additional development of the high-speed internet, workforce programs and the purchase of additional property for industrial and residential development.
When asked by councilman Shawn Grobe who would administer the funds and how will it be accountable Chavez said his 7 members board with representation from all the communities in the county could oversee it but that framework hasn’t been proposed.
After a short discussion the Plymouth Common Council approved both a proposed LOHUT and CEDIT with everyone but Councilman Gary Cook voting against the tax.
