Van Buren County officials’ doubts about the wheel tax were confirmed Tuesday night after 68 percent voted against the $40 increase.
Budget Committee Vice Chairman Henry Seamons said he expected a strong opposition against the wheel tax with the county passing a 45 cent property tax increase in August.
“The public is just not going to vote I feel a wheel tax in after having a property tax increase too,” Seamons said. “We did state on the ballot that half of it was going to the schools, which the schools are going to need much needed funding.”
Seamons said he wants to have a work session with the Van Buren School System in the coming months to discuss funding options. The wheel tax revenue would have been split between the county and school system.
Mayor Greg Wilson said the county’s is currently in good financial standing, but the future of the school system’s funding is now in question.
“As of right now, our county is operating very good,” Wilson said. “We have no budget issues as far as the county goes. I am afraid that the school system, the board of education will have some money issues a little bit later on this fiscal year.”
Wilson said he expects work to start on the school’s budget at the beginning of the new year. The board of education will have to evaluate its budget then report to the budget committee, which would then pass along the possible budget shortfalls to the commission.
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