UPDATED: A group of about 35-40 concerned citizens have been trying to gather enough signatures by Wednesday’s deadline to put the property tax opt-out to a vote of the people. (The auditor’s office told them they had until the end of the day Wednesday to submit the signatures) But they may not have to worry about it. Apparently they are seeking an extension because of a mixup in the publication dates. They will know soon about that.
Rumor has it that the opt-out is misleading because the group says that the county commission is essentially raising property taxes RETROACTIVELY.
Apparently, the new proposed tax increase begins already in January, 2013 when the 2012 taxes will need to be paid. So in essence, by passing this tax increase in July and having it begin already next January, they are retroactively raising the tax rate going all the way back to January 2012. There is also a rumor that this opt-out had more to do with a raise for county workers then increasing costs in prosecutions. While it is true that they DO need the extra money for prosecutions, it will be interesting to see if it comes out about the pay increases.
They also have pointed out that the county commission may not have followed protocol before voting on the opt-out. It is in reference to public announcements before the vote.
Is deadline Thursday or tomorrow? First publication — Argus Mon July 16, small towns Wed July 18. Twenty days after = Tues Aug 7th. Am I counting right?
No doubt the county needs money. I feel taxes should remain the same but the City of Sioux Falls should get a smaller partition. I hope the county doesn’t opt in to unconstitutional government as the city has. Yes, a vote, but word it to take away from the city and add to the county without raising taxes.
A guy was collecting signatures at the fair… standing at the Thune booth five feet away from Manny Steele blowing up balloons with a compressor. Sadly, the GOP is so cheap these days the balloons were full of air and not helium. Just what a kid wants – a balloon as lifeless as a democratic campaign for Congress. The least they could have done was have Manny blow them up himself… he has enough hot air to go around.
Helium is not allowed in the Expo building.
I would think you would want to keep any kind of gas away from that building.