Dateline: October 19, 2006

Concerned Citizens take case to city aldermen

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Representatives of the Concerned Citizens of Donley County took their campaign to abolish the personal property tax to City Hall last Tuesday during the Board of Aldermen’s regular meeting.

Brad Dalton, acting as the group’s spokesman, presented a petition with more than 300 signatures from all over the county requesting that the tax on cars, boats, and other personal property be abolished.

“Sooner or later we’re going to get this on a ballot, and then you’ll have to stop it,” he said.

Dalton asked the board members if they knew how much of the city’s revenues came from personal property taxes, and they replied the figure is about 22 percent of the property tax revenue, which they said translated to about $60,000 per year.

Aldermen said they could remove the personal property tax but said the city would still need that revenue.

“We have to have a place to come up with the money,” Alderman Michael Tibbets said.

“No, you have to cut your budget that much,” Dalton replied.

Aldermen agreed they could cut the budget but that citizens wouldn’t be happy when they cut the services to do so.

“I wanted to have a landfill to replace the revenue from the personal property tax,” Tibbets said, “but you saw how that went over.”

Mayor Mark White thanked the Concerned Citizens for coming and said the board would take their comments under advisement.

In other city business, the board reviewed requirements in the R1 residential zone concerning mobile homes and determined that two homes Loy Davis had requested be placed at Eighth and Johns streets fit the definition of what is prohibited in that zone.

Aldermen discussed whether the city should modify regulations in the R1 zone or redraw the city’s residential zones to expand the R2 district, which allows mobile homes.

“I think it would be awful tough to redraw the line,” Alderman Bobbie Kidd said. “I’d rather have one person upset with me than 14 or more.”

Alderman Tibbets agreed and said, “We’re going to open a can of worms.”

The board chose to let the current rules stand and took no action.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, Fire Chief Delbert Robertson addressed the board concerning the need to fix up City Hall. The board said $7,000 has been budgeted this fiscal year to work on the building, which needs immediate attention to the roof. White said the city would contact a local contractor about this.

The board approved the Fund Investment Policy as presented and appointed City Secretary Linda Smith as the Fund Investment Officer.

The Chamber of Commerce’s quarterly report on their use of Motel Bed Tax funds was approved.

The city’s employee policies were discussed, and a clarification was made concerning holidays.