As early voting is underway for this year’s general election slated for May 6, the city of Levelland is encouraging the community to perform their civic duty by voting.
On the ballot for Levelland citizens is the street maintenance sales tax election, which the Texas Tax Code authorizes cities to establish a special sales tax rate for the repair and maintenance of existing city streets. First approved by Levelland voters 16 years ago, this one-quarter percent sales tax must be reauthorized every four years.
The funds collected provide cost-effective rehabilitation and preventive maintenance of public streets within the city limits of Levelland. The goal is to improve mobility and maintain roadways to prevent deterioration and costly rebuilds. Common uses of the maintenance sales tax are asphalt overlay, reclamation, crack seal, curb repair and pothole repair.
This tax is assessed on all taxable sales in the City of Levelland and is paid by every shopper, meaning visitors in town for special events will pay the sales tax on purchases they make in Levelland. Unlike ad valorem taxes that are linked to the value of a citizen’s property, this tax is shared by all those who commute and visit the City of Levelland.
If approved, the current sales and use tax rate would not increase. This proposition reauthorizes the current collection of the one-quarter percent sales and use tax for street maintenance and repair.
On a $100 taxable purchase, the street maintenance sales tax will result in sales tax of 25 cents. Based on Internal Revenue Service estimates, a family of four with an annual income of $50,000 will pay approximately $38 per year toward street maintenance sales tax.
First presented by city staff in January, the message sent has been the reiteration that the tax is nothing new and has been voted on multiple times and has been a long-standing benefit to the community according to City of Levelland Mayor Barbra Pinner. “We want everyone to come out, cast their vote and continue to show support for something that has continue to serve the community well in terms of helping maintain our roads,” said Pinner.
For additional educational purposes, citizens of Levelland can expect a mailer with more information pertaining to the maintenance sales tax. City Manager Brandon Anderson expressed his interest in getting citizens to the polls and performing their civic duty.
“In regard to the role I serve, I just want to encourage citizens to vote,” said Anderson. “I also want to reiterate the fact that this quarter of a percent of the sales tax revenue is ear-marked and utilized for street maintenance, and it does take a bit of the burden off of taxpayers.”
Wanting to be transparent and offer citizens the facts pertaining to what they would be voting for, Anderson hopes the community will soak in all the details and make the best choice when it comes to casting their vote.
Early voting began April 24 and extends through May 2. Registered voters can vote at the Hockley County Elections Office Monday through Friday, located at 911 Austin Street with operating hours being 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Election Day voting is set for May 6, at the Hockley County Tax Office located at 624 Avenue H, Suite 103 with operating hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.