By Carol Walker
At the Hill City Council meeting on Monday night, Brett McMacken, city administrator, said election season is just around the corner with petitions available on March 1 for two seats on the city council, those now occupied by Pam Fowler and Jason Gillaspie. Fowler and Gillaspie may decide to run for reelection, but others may take out petitions as well. McMacken said completed petitions with the required number of signatures must be returned to city hall no later than March 31 at 5 p.m.
McMacken also reported on his trip to Pierre where he met with other people in municipal government from across the state. He said SB 135 came out of committee on a vote of 9-2, passed the Senate with a 19-14 vote and is headed for the House for review and a vote.
Recently the city council gave a vote of support for this bill which would “authorize municipalities to impose an additional sales and use tax for a limited period of time for a specified use.” The money generated from this tax could be used for capital expenditures or refunds that are not funded by another source of revenue.
Prior to a tax such as this being instituted, it would be referred to a vote of the people. Before the bill came out of committee it was amended with a statement that essentially said no city could impose an additional local option sales tax if the governor declares a state fiscal emergency and the State of South Dakota enacts a statewide sales and use tax.
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