In the May 2 election, voters renewed a measure that dedicates .25 percent (1/4%) of the county sales tax to 911 operations. Between July 1 and Sept. 30, consumers will not have to pay that quarter percent.
Knox County Commissioner Thom Collier said that because the renewal was a continuation of the sales tax allocation, the assumption was that everything would continue as normal. Due to Ohio election law, that is not so.
“There is a gap when the current sales tax ends June 30 and the new one starts Oct. 1,” he said. “So there will be a tax holiday for Knox County between July 1 and Sept. 30.
“But the inconvenient part will be to businesses who collect sales tax. They will get a notice in June to roll back the tax effective July 1 by one-quarter percent, and then they will get another notice in September to put it back.”
“It has to do with making sure it's officially passed,” Commissioner Bill Pursel explained. “They always have to wait by law so many days after an election to certify the vote is valid. Once they certify it, then you can do it.
“The May ballot won't be certified until early June. That won't give them time to notify retailers before the next tax filing date.”
County Administrator Jason Booth said that according to Ohio election law, each ballot issue has to stand on its own.
“So even though it's a continuation, it's a new ballot issue,” he said. “State law says it can't go into effect for 90 days.”
However, he cautioned consumers not to be surprised come Oct. 1 when the quarter percent tax is reinstated.
Although consumers individually might not notice the reduction, it adds up for the county. Booth estimates 911 will see between $500,000 and $600,000 in revenue loss for the months of July, August, and September.
However, 911 will not see the decrease in revenue until October. The state's October payment to the county represents receipts for July, August, and September.
Booth said the commissioners will monitor 911 expenses and consider supplementing the 911 budget from the general fund if needed.
