Hamilton County and its 10 Municipalities pledge to work together on state shared sales tax
“I have initiated conversations on the state shared sales tax issue and never formally proposed written legislation on this matter” said Mayor Coppinger. “Hamilton County is better served when we all work together. These mayors represent cities of Hamilton County, and their constituents are my constituents. There was never any intent to harm our communities and we have moved on from this issue.”
In a meeting held in early December, Mayor Coppinger and State Sen. Bo Watson met with the mayors and city managers of the Coalition. During the two-hour meeting, it was agreed that the cities and Mayor Coppinger should join forces to work toward long-term corrections to the state revenue flowing back to cities and counties.
“Mayor Coppinger showed great leadership in the meeting,” said Collegedale Mayor Katie Lamb on behalf of the Coalition. “We agree that cities and counties deserve a bigger share of state revenues and that we will work together going forward to try and make that happen.”
Mayor Lamb pointed out that in 1947 when the state shared sales tax was implemented, cities and counties received an 80-20 split of state revenues while today that percentage has decreased to a 91-9 split.
“With Sen. Watson’s influential position regarding state finances, I think this is the right time to examine all state revenue streams coming back to cities and counties and hopefully find a way to increase funding to counties that provide state-mandated services and to cities that are the economic engines of the state,” said Mayor Coppinger.
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