A Pike County officials is hoping the county’s occupational tax can be repealed.
During Tuesday’s Pike Fiscal Court meeting, county officials scheduled budget discussions for the upcoming fiscal year to begin at the court’s next meeting February 20th. District 5 Magistrate Hilman Dotson said he hopes to discuss possibly repealing Pike County’s not-yet-two-year-old 1 percent occupational tax.
Dotson said after the meeting that he hopes the county can afford to repeal the tax. County Treasurer Johnda Billiter, however, said the county likely cannot afford to do away with the 1-percent levy.
Billiter said the tax netted more than $3 million in revenue in its first full year, and with the county facing an already-tight budget, and the prospect of possibly having to contribute an additional $600,000 to employee retirement, the loss of the tax revenue would be devastating.
Still, Dotson wants to explore repealing the tax, but acknowledged the county many not be able to afford a repeal. Billiter said she plans to present financial data to the court to show the damage a repeal would cause.
The February 20th Pike Fiscal Court meeting, when budget discussions are planned to begin, will be held at 5:30 p.m.
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