Sales tax back on the ballot in Crowley
A half cent sales tax is back on the ballot in Crowley.
The tax expired in April after voters failed to pass it during last year's October election.
The tax will still be used to improve roads, but it'll include all infrastructure tied into roads.
"It seemed kinda silly to have a tax that could only be used for roads, alleys, streets, avenues and it couldn't fix the bridge if it rolled over."
Mayor Greg Jones says because of that change in wording is technically considered a new tax, although it's the same half cent sales tax people have been paying for 15 years. City Alderman Elliot Dore says this tax generates between $1 and $1.3 million dollars.
"We're constantly doing repairs on the streets."
Without the revenue generated by this tax, key projects could be put on hold.
Dore says one project planned in his ward in South Crowley is costing between $250,000 to $300,000.
"In the three months that this half cent sales tax has been off the books thats about what that half cent sales tax would generate."
If the tax is not renewed the city will face cutbacks in other departments.
"You have to have these things and you don't want to go backwards when you've made the advancements that the City of Crowley has."
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