By: Donovan W. Mann – [email protected]
Humboldt County, IA – The special election to renew the local option sales tax in Humboldt County this Tuesday.
This special election is used to renew the tax referred to as L.O.S.T. in all the cities across the county as well as the unincorporated areas. Each entity will have to approve the renewal individually. County Auditor Peggy Rice talks about L.O.S.T. with KHBT.
She says that it is a one cent tax that is already in being collected across the county. For example, if a purchase is made at a grocery store that tax is already being applied and is reflected in the total tax collected. Rice says that every city that has a measure on the ballot for the election is asking for that one percent collection. The tax is used by some communities to fund repair and construction projects and without the funds from L.O.S.T. those cities might not be able to complete the work.
Rice provides some examples of what some cities in the county look to use local option sales tax for. Bode put it in place so that it can be used for their public water system, sanitary sewer system, street improvements and for “any lawful purpose determined by their council.” Bradgate is just renewing L.O.S.T. to be used for that “any lawful purpose.” The City of Humboldt’s language makes it so the funds can only be used for construction repair, maintenance of streets, bridges and storm sewers. Rice says that the tax is mainly used as a source to fund projects a city might not have other revenues for.
As previous reported by KHBT, local option sales tax has been collected in Humboldt County since 2001. A special election is required to renew L.O.S.T. because a certain percentage of the population must cast their vote with a simple majority required for a decision and public measures can’t be taken during the general election. If a city or the county were to not get enough participation in the election they would have to hold another special election to try again.
The special election to renew local option sales tax in Humboldt County will be Tuesday, Sept. 8. Polling places will open up early in the morning and close in the later stages of the evening.