Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Voters To Decide On New Sales Tax

Voters in Gurdon will get the chance to show just how much they do want animal control.

The Gurdon City Council, in its regular monthly meeting Monday night, agreed to hold a special election to deal with three separate issues. These issues include animal control, an emergency warning siren system and more funding for the Gurdon Police Department.

The city had mailed surveys out to all registered voters within the confines of the Gurdon city limits to get their opinions on these measures and how they felt they should be funded.

A total of 305 responded though more than 1,000 surveys were mailed out. Some 200 couldn't be delivered.

The vast majority of those returning their surveys said an emergency warning system is a good idea and are willing to support it financially. The figures show 220 favor the system, while 71 said no and 14 were undecided.

On the topic of financing such a system, 183 said they would support it financially, with 109 saying they wouldn't and 13 being undecided.

A total of 203 said there is a problem with dogs in Gurdon, while 85 felt otherwise. There were 17 responses with no opinion.

Of those who responded, 273 said controlling the dogs is the responsibility of the owner, while 16 said it isn't. Another 16 voiced no opinion.

The overwhelming response to how these measures should be funded was not with a $3 fee tacked onto the water bill. Only 94 wanted the fee on their water bill, while 181 didn't and 30 offered no comment.

Again, the voters responding let the city know they didn't want to continue taking money from the street and fire departments. The survey showed 81 favoring taking funds from the street and fire crews, while 195 said no. A total of 29 no comments were submitted.

On the other hand, the vast majority of those with opinions said the city should spend more money on streets. According to the survey 232 want to see this done, with 42 opposing spending more on street work. Thirty-one said nothing on the issue.

Interestingly, 33 respondents said they would like to see the Gurdon Police Department decreased. However, 236 opposed this idea and 36 offered no opinion.

On the question of a half-cent sales tax to fund the siren system, animal control project and help the GPD, a whopping 205 agreed with the idea, while 91 said no and 9 had nothing to say.

But, most voters also said they didn't want to see this tax money dedicated specifically to the GPD. Only 62 liked the idea of giving the GPD control of the funds, while 149 disagreed. There were 94 with no opinion.

On the other hand, the majority of those responding did like the concept of putting the money into the city's general fund and letting the council oversee its distribution. Of those responding, 170 said put the money in the general fund, with 49 saying don't and 86 saying nothing.

According to Gurdon Mayor Rick Smith, several of the survey forms turned in had other comments written on them. These comments were not discussed by the council, but are available to the public at city hall. "We appreciate all the comments," Smith said, "even the bad ones."

The first step on getting a sales tax, he said, is to hold a special election.

In 1993, he told the council, a half-cent tax was passed for the Gurdon Fire Department and street department to help purchase much needed equipment. However, this tax was specifically to retire a $415,000 bond issue and will be automatically repealed when the bonds are paid off in 2006.

The money from the bonds was used to purchase a the city's newest firetruck, a backhoe and other equipment.

Smith said the council needed to pass an ordinance to hold a special election for the new sales tax issue. The Clark County Election Commission said the election could be held at a cost of about $1,000 if only one polling place is used.

First, though, the council must have the ordinance read three times in open session, though special meetings can be held for this purpose. Next comes holding the election and seeing what the voters really have to say.

In addition, the issue of animal control will require a separate ordinance. The city attorney has been looking into this, Smith said.

He said the council could approve an ordinance on animal control to show the public its intent to follow through, but make the ordinance contingent on having the money to operate the system.

It will cost Gurdon about $25,000 to have two emergency warning sirens installed, Smith said.

Because the city can't finance the system, he said, another way will have to be found to make the initial purchase. Smith suggested taking money from the GFD account to buy the sirens and have them installed and pay the GFD back with the tax money as it comes in. This, he told the council, would take less than a year.

Councilman Glen Hughes said the ballot should stipulate how much money is going to what project, or the voters could scrap the entire deal.

Smith countered, saying the council will be responsible for coming up with a budget. He said if the money is dedicated, once part is paid for the money must remain there.

This would be the case in the emergency siren system, primarily, because of its fixed costs. Once the system is paid for, only a maintenance budget will be required for it.

On the other hand, the GPD and animal control are not static accounts and their budgetary needs could fluxuate.

Smith said a half-cent tax will generate approximately $69,000 per year.

Hughes said he has gotten a lot of feedback on the tax issue, and told the council if the monies are not dedicated it could be difficult to get the tax approved.

He said a figure was needed on what animal control will cost.

This, Smith said, will depend on the system Gurdon installs. At this point, though, it is unknown what an animal control operation will cost.

However, an officer with the GPD has animal control experience, and, Smith said, this is something which should be done by someone already employed by the city. Animal control, he told the council, is not a full-time job.

Initially, he said, the city will most likely have to contract out these services because there is no place to house the dogs caught. But, an Arkadelphia veterinarian has tentatively agreed to shelter the dogs brought in for $5 per day, keeping them a minimum of 10 days to be sure they aren't rabid.

Should the dogs not be claimed after 10 days, though, they could be put to sleep.

If an animal is claimed, on the other hand, the owner will have to pay the tab for its board, show proof the dog has been vaccinated and have it spayed or neutered. The spaying or neutering, Smith said, is a state law.

The mayor suggested having a location where a photo of the dogs caught can be examined by owners, who can then make their decision on what they want to do.

The problem, Smith said, wi