Council plans Nov. 6 election to consider move to 4B tax
4B designation expands how money can be spent
BY GLORIA JENNINGS

A city election has been planned for Nov. 6 by the Rusk City Council. The council met Aug. 21 to approve the ballot wording and make plans for the election. The Cherokee County Commissioners Court voted Monday to conduct the election for the city. The council met Tuesday afternoon to officially call the election.

Voters will consider replacing the city's 4A economic development corporation tax to a 4B tax.

Voters are being asked to abolish the current corporation tax established for the promotion and development of new and expanded businesses and create a 4B corporation tax.

If approved the new sales tax will be used for the promotion of professional and amateur athletics and sports, athletics, entertainment, tourism, convention and public park purposes and events including stadiums, ball parks, auditoriums, amphitheaters, concert halls, parks and park facilities, open space improvements, museums, exhibition facilities and related store, restaurant, concession and parking activities, related transportation facilities, road, streets and water, sewer facilities and other facilities that enhance such items listed.

Projects will be used to promote new or expanded business enterprises that create or retain primary jobs, including public safety facilities, streets and roads, drainage, related improvements and demolition of existing structures.

Sales tax revenue can be used to develop and expand affordable housing. The tax revenue can go toward purchase of land, buildings, equipment, facilities, expenditures, infrastructure and improvement for the creation or retention of primary jobs, including transportation facilities, sewage or solid waste disposal facilities, recycling facilities, air or water pollution control facilities, facilities for the furnishing of water to the general public, distribution centers, small warehouse facilities capable of serving as decentralized storage and distribution centers, primary job training facilities for use by institutions of higher eduction and regional or national corporate headquarters facilities and targeted infrastructure and any other improvements, expenditures, or facilities that are related to any of the above projects and any other project that the board determines will promote new or expanded business enterprises that create or retain primary jobs and the maintenance and operations expenses for any of the above described projects.