Increase will add 1 cent to every $4 in purchases
Following the approval of voters on the November ballot, the one-quarter of one-percent sales tax will take effect in Carbon County on April 1, 2016. Ordinance No. 473, implementing the tax to fund local transportation projects was approved by the Carbon County Commission at its regular meeting on December 16.
57 percent voter approval
Proposition 1 was on the ballot in 17 Utah counties and was approved by voters in ten counties, including Carbon, Davis, Duchesne, Grand, Rich, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Tooele and Weber. It was approved by voters in Carbon County by a margin of 57 percent to 43 percent.
The ballot measure was narrowly defeated in Salt Lake County, and fell short in Beaver, Box Elder, Juab, Morgan, Rich, and Uintah counties. It could reappear on the ballot in the counties where it failed and the 12 others where it wasn’t on the ballot.
The county-wide sales tax will raise one penny for every $4 in purchases, with the exception of groceries. It will be used for transportation improvement projects, such as B and C roads, trails, sidewalks, maintenance, and safety features.
The Utah League of Cities and Towns and the Utah Association of Counties estimates the annual projected revenue from the tax will amount to $602,205 for Carbon County; $198,000 for the City of Price; $26,000 for Helper; $23,000 for Wellington, $18,000 for East Carbon City, and $476 for Scofield Town.
The Utah Legislature enacted the county-option tax increase, which allows participating counties to collect a portion of point-of-sale taxes and pool the rest in a state fund for road projects. Rural counties are expected to benefit.