Maurice officials propose rededication of 1975 sales tax

MAURICE — The Village of Maurice has collected a sales tax for sewer and water improvements for decades, but currently collects nothing dedicated to enhancing roads.
That could change if a proposal brought to the table by Mayor Wayne Theriot at the April Board of Aldermen meeting picks up steam.
“We have zero funds dedicated for capital improvements,” Theriot said. “Capital improvements include roads, drainage, facility upgrades and equipment purchases.
“We have a dire, dire need for capital improvements.”
Theriot suggested that a one-percent sales tax collected for the sewer system since 1975, and later amended to include water system improvements in ‘81, be rededicated toward those improvements. Both measures were passed by voters. Any rededication of the tax would have to occur by similar means.
“My proposal is that if we ask the voters to rededicate or amend the ‘75 sales tax to be used for 1/2 percent capital improvements and 1/2 percent to the water and sewer dedication,” Theriot said. “If the voters would approve, that would give us some base for funding to work with.”
Theriot stressed that this proposal does not create a new tax.
“I want to emphasize that this is a tax that is currently being collected,” Theriot said. “It will continue to be paid. It is not an increase.
“It will remain the same amount. All we want to do is rededicate how it is portioned.”
The plan is to have the measure on the Oct. 24 state election ballot. There are steps that need to be taken to have the issue on the ballot. The plan would have to be approved by the state bonding commission, as well as the Secretary of State Tom Schedler’s office. That would have to be done by August.
Should the measure make its way to the ballot and pass, it would give the village a base with which to work on capital improvements.
“It could bring us around $15,000 to $18,000 a month,” Theriot explained. “That gives us a base. As it builds up, you can maybe look at bigger projects. It also gives you a base to do some bonding. They look at how you are going to pay a bond back.”
Theriot mentioned loans available from the USDA.
“They have money out there,” Theriot said, “but they have to have a form of repayment.”
In the current state financial climate, grants are not a strong option.
“I spoke with our grant writer,” Theriot said. “I told him about some of our upcoming needs. We need money for roads and improvements to city hall.
“There is not much out there as far as grants.”
Rededicating the ‘75 sales tax would not affect the integrity of the water and sewer funds, which currently has a reserve of more than $1 million.”
Alderwoman Phyllis Johnson said she is in favor of a move to rededicate.
“We definitely need funds to take care of our own roads,” Johnson said. “I think this is absolutely necessary.”
As did the mayor, Johnson said it is necessary to remember that this is not a proposition for a new tax.
“This is not a new sales tax,” Johnson said.