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The Brandenburg City Council narrowly approved a proposed occupational tax during a special called meeting Monday (6\/23) evening.<\/p>\n
The meeting was held in the Public Works Building due to the expected turnout for the public comment session that was scheduled. With several onlookers in attendance, only three people spoke in regards to the ordinance. Former Mayor Ronnie Joyner used his time at the podium urging council members to approve the tax ordinance in order to help move the city forward on various needs. He sighted increase expenses of Hazardous Duty Retirement for city police officers which is an ongoing commitment and over all increase in operating costs as justification for the tax. Other speakers, Brian Chism and Shannon Slack continued their quest to ask city leader why the tax was needed and to provided a specific need for the city instead allowing the generated funds go into the general fund.<\/p>\n
After hearing the comments, the council heard the second reading of the proposed third of a percent occupational tax ordinance. Councilman Mark Spry made a motion to add limitation caps on the ordinance that anyone who made below $20,000 or above $200,000 a year would not have to pay the tax. The amendment was approved on a 4 to 2 vote by the council. Councilman Spry then made a motion to set the tax rate at half of a percent which failed due a lack of second. <\/p>\n
Councilman David Woodward made a motion to table the vote until after the July meeting that is expected to have detailed maintenance expensed of the city utilities presented to the council. Council members came to a tied 3 to 3 vote with Mayor David Pace casting tie breaking vote of “No”. <\/p>\n
After further discussion, the question for vote was called by the council resulting in another 3 to 3 tied vote. Mayor David Pace broke the tie vote by casting a “Yes” vote in favor of the ordinance resulting a 4 to 3 approval vote. The one third of a percent occupational tax will become effective in July 2025.<\/p>\n
In other business, the council heard the first reading of an ordinance related to Street Legal Special Vehicles which will set standards for non traditional vehicles to operated on city streets. The measure is similar to the county’s version of the ordinance and prohibits use of the vehicles on State Routes 313, 1051, and 448. The ordinance would require owners to have such vehicles inspected by the county sheriff and issued a special license plate from the county clerk in order to be operated on the designated streets in the city. The council is expected to hear the second reading of the ordinance during their next regular meeting.<\/p>\n