During Tuesday evening’s regular meeting, commissioners set Tuesday, June 9, as the date for the election to vote on extending the sales tax for another 10 years. The decision came after a recommendation from a committee that had been created by the commission to research the matter.
“The committee feels very strongly that the commission should recommend it for a revote,” Commissioner Brad Bekkedahl reported to the commission Tuesday on behalf of the committee.
The existing ordinance allows 75 percent of the sales tax to be used for property tax relief through debt reduction and necessary infrastructure projects. The remaining 25 percent goes toward economic and community development projects through the Williston Star Fund.
In reviewing the current ordinance, Bekkedahl said committee members discovered the true financial impact it had on the city. In the area of direct city infrastructure, Bekkedahl said $17 million in sales tax funds were leveraged to produce almost $55 million in improvements. He said while the city has greatly benefitted from the infrastructure improvements, city director of Public Works/Engineering Monte Meiers, “did show us there is a lot more to do. We feel the city needs to continue to leverage sales tax dollars for infrastructure.”
From an economic development perspective, another $4.9 million in sales tax funds have been leveraged to contribute almost $80 million in improvements, Bekkedahl said. In reviewing the existing sales tax ordinance, he said the committee, “also felt it important to allow for quality of life projects.” So that is included in the ballot language for residents to consider.
Mayor Ward Koeser said the the city has a limited home rule charter which allows the city to have a sales tax, and the limits on the charter do not change as part of the upcoming vote.
He said it is important for community residents to become educated on the matter leading up to the vote. To help in that regard, Koeser said a group of community people are forming a committee to share information. Several community forums on the matter are also likely to be scheduled.
“This is an important issue for the city,” Koeser said. “When you look at the infrastructure alone, we have made some great strides. But we have some great strides to take yet.”
Bekkedahl said the original sales tax was created to help pay down city debt. When the sales tax was first passed, the city removed 60 mills from its property tax levy.
“The 60 mills has never been placed back on,” he said.
The formal ballot language people will vote upon reads as follows:
“Shall the city continue to impose a retail sales and use tax of no more than one percent of those gross receipts taxed pursuant to state law and to amend the home rule chart to provide that 75 percent of the proceeds of such city sales and use tax shall be dedicated to property tax relief through debt reduction and to necessary infrastructure and 25 percent to an economic and community development fund (Williston STAR Fund), which includes workforce development, community enhancement and quality of life projects. Upon passing a resolution by a 4/5th vote of the commissioners, the City Commission may reallocate up to a total of 74 percent of the proceeds to either use described above. An ordinance continuing to impose a city sales and use tax adopted to this vote shall expire no later than June 30, 2020.”
In an unrelated matter Tuesday, commissioners rejected an application from Hans Kemnitz to start a second taxi cab service in the city. Williston has long been served by Basin Cab and commissioners voted 3-2 to limit the service provided in the city to that firm.
Koeser and commissioners Howard Klug and James Lawson voted against the Kemnitz application. Bekkedahl and Commissionerr Brent Bogar voted to allow Kemnitz the taxi license.
In giving a committee report, Bekkedahl said its concern was to not negatively impact the service already provided to the city.
“I cannot tell you there is not a risk in this,” he said.
Kemnitz said he has worked on this project for about nine weeks, which first included visiting with various business owners and managers.
After receiving a positive response from these individuals, Kemnitz then visited with others and did a couple of his own surveys to determine the level of need for a second service.
“The majority of the business I have found is during the bar rush,” Kemnitz told the commission.
As a result, he proposed to run one cab from 3 p.m. to 3 a.m., as he is limited by federal Department of Transportation rules to working 12 hours at a time.
“I would like to operate for the remainder of 2009 myself to see what the demand would be,” Kemnitz said.
He also had talked with all of the taxi cab services in the state, including a Fargo firm that was willing to mentor him as he got the new enterprise started.
Kemnitz said he was not looking to put the existing cab service out of business.
“I’m not going to do it with one cab,” he said.
Comments
Hans Kemnitz wrote on Apr 4, 2009 9:45 AM:
College Grad Workin back in Williston wrote on Mar 23, 2009 7:29 PM:
grandma sue wrote on Mar 23, 2009 9:31 AM:
What is wrong with another cab company? HMMM? I think we only need 1 bar, 1 grocery, 1 restaurant, just one of everything. That would maintain our smallville lifestyle. "
Tea Party wrote on Mar 20, 2009 1:57 PM:
P.S. It seems to me we had a vote this last year on the state level to reduce our taxes and it was voted down!...Go figure.. i hope our literacy levels require being able to read what the ballot says! "
Wheres our Liberty wrote on Mar 19, 2009 5:32 PM:
Resident wrote on Mar 19, 2009 8:35 AM:
time to boycott wrote on Mar 18, 2009 7:57 PM:
I got these #’s from the city commission monthly reports on line
Jan 22/08 BASIN CAB CO. $600.00
March 11 08 BASIN CAB CO. DOT Grant $2,991.00
June 24 08 BASIN CAB CO. Grant Reimb $1,273.00
August 12 2008 BASIN CAB CO. Grant Reimb $2,139.00
November 25 08 BASIN CAB CO. Grant Reimb $4,388.00
For a total of $11,391.00 Not bad for one year "
Headward wrote on Mar 18, 2009 5:05 PM:
Why wouldn't they want to encourage growth and choices? Simple answer, protect their own businesses. Look at the Economic Director. He was quoted in this paper that he "preferred a smaller town"(sic). Talk about the wolves guarding the hen house. I would recommend seeing if you can get the commissioners removed by petition and a special election.
The oil boom is over and all Williston got was higher taxes. "
Williston Guy wrote on Mar 18, 2009 1:57 PM:
Question Facts wrote on Mar 18, 2009 10:59 AM:
I believe that this is a case of a law or ordinance that should not be on the books. What can a person do to get rid of it and allow business/free market enterprise to happen? It is ridiculous how many city,state and federal laws exist to protect a business. "
local lifer wrote on Mar 17, 2009 4:51 PM:
Steve Powell wrote on Mar 17, 2009 12:46 PM:
T.R. wrote on Mar 17, 2009 8:46 AM:
agree we need anther cab service wrote on Mar 16, 2009 3:35 PM:
Maybe they have time to wait and get paid to wait where some of us don;t have the time and don't get pd to wait Im sure klug figures the longer you wait at his business the more you will spend. Guess someones life isn't that important to them. Tell me if someone has to wait to long for a ride home from the bar that they aren't going to give up and drive home when they shouldn;t "
time to boycott wrote on Mar 12, 2009 9:38 PM:
Wheres our Liberty wrote on Mar 12, 2009 6:16 PM:
David Sagaser wrote on Mar 12, 2009 5:37 PM:
Williston Resident wrote on Mar 12, 2009 1:52 AM:
Williston resident wrote on Mar 11, 2009 11:11 PM:
dont waste it wrote on Mar 11, 2009 10:55 PM:
FrstKnt wrote on Mar 11, 2009 7:44 PM:
As for the taxi issue...wow, what a terrible decision by the city commission. There are antitrust laws in this country banning monopolistic practice, yet in Williston the city commission supports it! I encourage all the residents of Williston to contact their commissioners, specifically the three who voted against this, and get it back on the agenda. This is a flat-out contradiction to the beliefs of our country, but oh so typical of the business "leaders" who also serve as the city commission in Williston. "
exasperated wrote on Mar 11, 2009 2:25 PM:
Williston Citizen wrote on Mar 11, 2009 2:02 PM:
BigRed wrote on Mar 11, 2009 1:35 PM:
williston resident wrote on Mar 11, 2009 1:31 PM: