Voters in the City of Dearborn in April will decide the fate of a half cent sales tax question. The half cent tax would be in addition to an existing one cent sales tax that’s been in place since 1984.
It is estimated the new half cent tax would raise an additional $15,000 annually. The city has been in a financial crunch and needs the tax “to offset some things,” Mayor Marvin Landes said, including helping to pay for the connection to Kansas City water.
Dearborn’s board recently okayed a 50 cent per thousand gallon water rate increase to help pay for the connection. Landes said the government agency that originally financed the city’s existing water plant must still OK that rate increase.
Dearborn has experienced problems and high expenses in running its own water plant in recent years, and the city plant will eventually be shut down once the city starts using Kansas City water.
In another matter at a recent meeting, the city’s board of aldermen gave its approval to an animal ordinance that calls for Platte County Animal Control to pick up stray animals within the city. It also sets regulations in regard to vicious animals and different breeds of dogs.
The contract for animal control service still has to be approved by the county, Landes said.