Washington County establishes tax freeze committee

The Washington County Commission established a tax freeze implementation committee in its meeting on Monday. The commission also denied the restricting of $96,500 in funds for convenience voting centers and approved more than $1 million in capital fund projects for the Washington County Sheriff's Office. The funds approved for the WCSO are already in the fiscal year budget and no additional funding was allocated. Tax freeze implementation committee The establishment of this committee furthers the county's efforts to adopt a tax freeze program for qualified citizens. The Property Tax Freeze Act passed in 2007 and enacted in 2008 allows counties and municipalities within the state to adopt a tax freeze program for qualified citizens. A tax freeze program freezes the amount an individual pays in property taxes the first year the applicant qualifies for the program in the case of a tax levy increase or an increase in property value. The committee will be made up of Mayor Joe Grandy, Trustee Rick Storey, Property Assessor Robbie McGuire, Commissioner Freddie Malone, Commissioner Kenneth Huffine and Commissioner Lewis Wexler. The resolution states work within the committee will begin as soon as possible to analyze and determine the financial impact, administrative costs and other information and date deemed relevant. The committee's establishment will not create a tax freeze program. Additionally, there is no timeline within the resolution for the committee to develop a final proposal to present to the full commission for consideration. Convenience voting centers In a 14 to one vote, the full commission denied the resolution to restrict the $96,500 in reimbursement funds from the state for convenience voting centers. This resolution came in front of the health, education and welfare committee on July 9 as a request by Administrator of Elections Chuck Vest. The request was recommended to the budget committee where officials denied the restriction. The funds were reimbursed by the state for the purpose of hosting the May primary election. This is the first time the state has allowed counties to apply for reimbursement for primary elections. Currently, the county does not have any convenience voting centers, which would allow any registered voter to come and cast a ballot in addition to their designated precinct. Vest said he feels comfortable with the decision the governing body makes and will revisit the funding for the centers when the time comes. He added if the county were to establish these centers, it would need to be done by the end of 2027 at the latest for operation during the 2028 presidential election. Other agenda items considered by the full commission include, but is not limited to, the denial of a rezoning request to develop an RV park, the allocation of $20,000 to the Piney Flats Fire Department and the acceptance of a grant to establish safe baby court.