JSDC Board opposes tax changes, extension

The Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corp. Board Monday was unanimous in its objection to the City Council’s decision to take half of the 1 percent sales tax previously dedicated to economic development.

“We should go on record as not approving the grand theft of this fund,” said Dick Geigle, JSDC Board member. “Four people decided to abscond with the funds the citizens voted for economic development.”

The board also voted unanimously to circulate a petition to put the issue on the ballot. The City Council opted to take the funding and extend the sales tax until 2022. In the past, voters decided every seven years on extending the tax. The next vote would have been in 2012.

“I’m opposed to the fact that this is not going back to the voters,” said Alex Schweitzer, JSDC Board mem-ber.

Geigle told the board an informal, online poll conducted by The Jamestown Sun overwhelmingly sup-ported putting the issue on the ballot. At press time Monday, about 72 percent of more than 340 votes fa-vored the tax extension being decided by a public vote.

Read more in Tuesday's Sun

Sun reporter Toni Pirkl can be reached at (701) 952-8453 or by e-mail at tonip@jamestownsun.com

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