Updated on Sept. 4, 2024 — At Tuesday’s commissioners’ meeting, a motion to propose a one-cent sales was not made after Charlie Meadows explained his plan for the tax. Commissioners Mark Sharpton and Monty Piearcy said they could not support a tax increase at this time.
At Tuesday’s Board of County Commissioners meeting, Logan County District 2 Commissioner Charlie Meadows proposed a one percent sales tax increase to fund equipment and remodeling for the Logan County Courthouse.
This proposal comes on the heels of Meadows’ recent defeat in the re-election campaign, where his opponent, Floyd Coffman, won with 1,100 votes (54.67%) compared to Meadows’ 912 votes (45.33%). Meadows will continue to serve until the end of December 2024.
The proposal emerged during a special BOCC meeting held on August 29, just two days after the election results were announced. Notably, this proposal did not feature in the recent campaign, which included a candidate forum, town hall meeting, and various campaign efforts.
In March, Logan County voters approved three separate sales tax extensions designated for the county jail, roads and bridges, and fire departments for the next 15 years. The current county sales tax stands at 0.75% (three-quarters of a cent). Meadows’ new proposal includes a temporary increase of 7/8ths (.875%) of a cent for equipment purchases and an additional 1/8th (.125%) of a cent for courthouse remodeling over two years.
According to last year’s county sales tax dollars at three-quarters of a cent, nearly $3.9 million was generated in the fiscal year.
Fellow commissioners, District 1 Mark Sharpton and District 3 Monty Piearcy did not offer any back-and-forth discussions.
Meadows expressed concerns about the future actions of new commissioners and stressed the difficulty of performing essential work without adequate equipment. “When I first took office, having the necessary equipment was my top issue. It’s challenging to meet community needs without it,” Meadows said.
He also noted that the costs of remodeling the administration building have exceeded initial estimates, resulting in a shortfall for a full courthouse renovation. Meadows is currently working on detailed estimates to gauge the potential revenue from the proposed tax.
The remaining funds from the administration building have been earmarked toward courthouse renovations along with additional local funding. Related article: BOCC approves $3 million renovation contract for new administration building
Though Meadows initially considered placing the proposal on the November ballot, he was informed by County Clerk Troy Cole that the deadline had passed. He is now considering a vote in 2025, possibly aligning with other elections to share costs. “It might be easier to get the measure passed in a smaller election,” Meadows suggested.
The next commissioners’ meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the Courthouse Annex, where the proposal will be further discussed.
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