MAYOR JACK MCDONALD AND CIVIC ASSOCIATION DIRECTOR PAT COOPER SPEAK OUT AGAINST SALES TAX REFERENDUM
Standing before a packed County Commission chamber on Tuesday, Palm Beach Mayor Jack McDonald and Civic Association Director Pat Cooper urged Palm Beach County Commissioners not to place a sales tax referendum on the November 2010 ballot.
A proposed one-cent sales tax endorsed by the fire-rescue unions could be a new funding source for fire-rescue activities countywide.
Mayor McDonald challenged the sales tax referendum. He described the proposal as a “regressive tax” and told the commissioners that municipal governments like the Town of Palm Beach should control and finance their own public safety services. Mr. Cooper raised additional concerns about the referendum and strongly recommended against the new taxation.
Of the 35 people that spoke at the meeting, 34 were opposed to adding a new sales tax.
“Mayor McDonald and Mr. Cooper did an outstanding job representing Palm Beach residents before the Commission,” said Civic Association President Ned Barnes. “The Association is working hard to protect Palm Beachers against higher taxes. The Mayor was the only elected official in the County who took time to attend and object on behalf of his constituents.”
By a vote of 4-3, the County Commission scheduled a first reading of the referendum ordinance at a public hearing next Tuesday, June 15, 2010 at 2 p.m.