Petition drive asking for referendum on county’s $50 wheel tax continues with deadline nearing
By Eddie West
Staff Writer
Circulation of a petition drive asking for a referendum on a planned $50 county wheel tax continued Monday (November 18).
During their October 28 meeting, county commissioners approved on second and final reading a resolution implementing a $50 wheel tax with funds benefiting the county’s road department. More specifically, funds collected from the wheel tax are to be designated for county road improvement projects such as resurfacing.
A successful petition drive would send the legislation to a referendum or vote by the people. This would result in a special election.
A petition has been circulating since the legislation surfaced.
Petitioners have 30 days from the final passage of the resolution by commissioners to collect and submit signatures from “10 percent of the number of voters in the last gubernatorial”, according to state law which requires the petition to be filed with the county election commission office.
The final day to submit a petition (or 30 days) is November 27, according to the election commission officials.
If the petition drive calling for a referendum is not successful, the implementation date for the wheel tax is expected to be January 1.
The wheel tax resolution notes funds generated by the special tax to be used for “county highway capital projects fund and used to make capital improvements to the roads of Smith County”. More specifically, officials have said funds will be used for gravel, oil, asphalt and equipment purchases.
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Where can petition be signed
New equipment but no work is going to be done on our roads unless you have a lot of money. Shame on Smith County. It’s more ways for Smith county too bleed the community dry and take the money claim its for roads but the people asking for it will put it to personal use not community of Smith County.
The City and County are of no use they say its not there obligation it the others obligations to fix and reapair roads. No unity between City and County.