Sales tax election ordered by county
San Jacinto Newstimes - March 2008

COLDSPRING – An election for adopting a one-half percent (0.5%) sales and use tax in the county and authorizing the San Jacinto County Assistance District was approved by San Jacinto County Commissioners’ Court Monday. The sales and use tax election will be held May 10 along with city and school board elections. The county already collects a one-half cent sales tax which is used to alleviate ad valorem taxes. If adopted by voters, the election will give the county an additional one-half cent sales tax for a total one percent. If passed, the sales and use tax would affect everyone in the county with the exception of the City of Shepherd where the sales tax is already 2 percent.

The county must use the sales tax revenues to perform functions of the district such as the construction, maintenance or improvement of roads or highways; the provision of law enforcement and detention services; the maintenance or improvement of libraries, museums, parks or other recreational facilities; the provision of services that benefi t the public welfare, including the provision of fi refi ghting and fi re prevention services; or to promotion of economic development and tourism. If approved by voters, commissioners’ court would be the governing body of the new county assistance district.

“I think it’s a good way to generate additional money and help reduce ad valorem taxes,” said Pct. 2 Commissioner Royce Wells. “It is a user tax as opposed to an ad valorem tax,” San Jacinto County Judge Fritz Faulkner said. Faulkner said anyone who makes a purchase of something in the county would be paying the tax and not just the property owners. The last day to order the election to be held on May 10 was Monday, March 10. Early voting in the countywide election will be held each weekday at the Coldspring Senior Annex, 51 East Pine Avenue, Coldspring between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Early voting begins Monday, April 28 and ends Tuesday, May 6 prior to the Saturday, May 10 election.