SYLACAUGA, Ala. – The Sylacauga City Council made two separate 3-2 votes, agreeing to both the proposed general city sales tax increase from 3% to 4.5% as well as the original proceeds allocation that was brought up at the first May council meeting.
Council President Ashton Fowler voted in favor of the sales tax increase along with council members Tiffany Nix and Lee Perryman while Laura Heath and Nate Brewer voted against the increase.
The sales tax increase is scheduled to go into effect on Sept. 1, 2023.
For the proceeds allocation vote, Fowler once again voted in favor of the original proposition. However, Brewer and Heath were the duo to vote in accordance with the Council President. Perryman and Nix voted voted against the allocation, which is split up as follows:
Debt – 20%
Paving – 15%
Fire Department – 12.5%
Police Department – 12.5%
Recreation – 10%
Capital – 7.5%
Infrastructure – 7.5%
Street Department – 7.5%
Reserve – 7.5%
Any amount generated which exceeds $4 million will be split 50% to the General Operations Reserve and 50% to the Special Projects Reserve.
The second allocation proposition was stricken from the agenda due to the above’s passing. If it had passed, it would have been divided as such:
City of Sylacauga General Fund – 25%
Streets, Roads, Bridges and Drainage – 25%
Police Department Pay Plan – 10%
Coosa Valley Medical Center – 12.5%
Debt – 8.75%
Sylacauga Board of Education – 7.5%
Parks & Recreation New Operation and Maintenance – 5.0%
Capital – 3.75%
Parks & Recreation – 2.5%
Additionally, the city council approved Resolution No. 24-2023 for FY23 budget amendment, to move funding from E&L Other Professional Fees (010-511-41580-000) in the amount of $15,000 to E&L Legal Fees Expense (010-511-41540-000).
They also approved Resolution No. 25-2023 for FY23 budget amendment, to move funding from E&L Other Professional Fees (010-511-41580-000) in the amount of $19,065.60 to E&L Data Processing (010-511-45010-000).
They amended the Capital Improvement Special Funds budget to add funding for the UKG payroll system in the amount of $39,907.75.
The council authorized the city’s participation in the 2023 Back-to-School Tax Holiday on the dates of July 21-23.
A recommendation from the city clerk/treasurer to approve Resolution #26-2023 declaring computer equipment as surplus property and authorize disposal on GovDeals.com was accepted.
Approval was granted for a reimbursement in the amount of $1,055 for fees charged for residential garbage services during the period of March 2018 through April 2023.
The city council amended the Lake Howard Authority budget to reallocate $20,000 to the city for the purchase of the Toro TX 1000 Wide Track Dingo and Bucket-STORD, TX 1000 as well as approved the purchase of said item in the amount $40,533.05.
An amount of $13,701.71 in funding was approved for South Highland Park renovations.
The council accepted the balance of April Accounts Payable invoices in the amount of $995,346.54 and the April payrolls in the amount of $438,581.87.
Before the agenda was addressed, the Talladega County 4-H Shotgun Team plus Sylacauga High School javelin thrower Bryant Waters were recognized for their recent state championship wins.
The next Sylacauga City Council meeting will take place at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday night, June 6.
