Utility Tax Measure OKd for March Ballot

City officials hope that by March, residents will have felt the pinch of municipal cutbacks enough to pass a ballot measure increasing their utility taxes to new highs.

Angry residents who attended a public hearing on the issue Tuesday night advised them not to hold their breath.

“If you put that proposal on the ballot, you know what will happen,” said Bob Ropeter, a longtime resident. “We’ll put that tax someplace where you don’t want it to go.”

But the City Council, desperate to fill a looming budget deficit that could reach $3 million by 1998, voted 4 to 1 to put the measure on the March ballot.

Should it pass, the proposition would increase gas and electric taxes from 3% to 5%, and would impose a new 3% tax on telephones.

Councilman Donald L. Bone voted against the action, which must be voted on a second time July 22. He said the measure should go on the November ballot, when the turnout is higher.

But the rest of the council thought the anti-tax rhetoric of a presidential campaign would hurt their cause.

“I cannot support putting it on in November when it stands a greater chance of being defeated,” said Mayor Patsy Marshall. “If we put it on in March, the citizens will have felt some of the cuts and they will know the city is serious.”

Revenue has dropped by $4.2 million over the years because of new programs mandated by the state and federal governments, a bigger share of local taxes being redirected to state coffers, a generally poor economy and other factors.

The city has already made drastic cuts in personnel and other areas, and now will be cutting deep into services, said City Manager Kevin O’Rourke.