Palm Coast City Council deadlocks on county’s proposed sales tax

A divided Palm Coast Metropolis Council didn’t vote on a decision to help a Flagler County half-cent gross sales tax, as soon as once more demonstrating the cut up which has deadlocked members on a number of points.

The decision to help the half-cent gross sales tax to pay for public safety-related bills failed as a result of nobody seconded a movement to help it throughout Tuesday’s assembly.

Palm Coast, with at the least 90,000 residents, receives the biggest share of the county’s present half-cent gross sales tax, bringing greater than $3.25 million to the town, in response to the town. About 28% of the tax is paid by folks visiting Flagler County.

It was simply the most recent subject to die on account of a scarcity of a second or a 2-to-2 impasse because the sudden resignation of former Mayor Milissa Holland on Could 18. Metropolis Supervisor Matt Morton resigned simply over every week later.

Learn Extra:Milissa Holland unexpectedly resigns as Palm Coast mayor. A particular election will observe

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Six candidates are vying to interchange Holland in a particular election on July 27 with the brand new mayor having outsize energy on the customarily evenly divided council. Will probably be a winner-take-all election with no runoff.

Metropolis Council members Ed Danko and Victor Barbosa opposed the decision for a letter of help for the county’s proposed half-cent gross sales tax for public security. Interim Mayor Eddie Branquinho appeared to help it. Council member Nick Klufas made the movement to approve the letter of help for gross sales tax.

“Do I’ve a second?,” Branquinho requested.

Silence.

“I’ll repeat it: Do I’ve a second to that?” Branquinho requested. 

With no second forthcoming, Metropolis Legal professional Wiliam Reischmann mentioned the movement failed for lack of a second.

Councilman says members not taking the possibility to debate tax publicly

Klufas then mentioned that by not seconding the movement council members had been forgoing their probability to inform the residents and their fellow council members what they thought concerning the subject.

”However hiding behind the truth that there’s not a movement on the desk earlier than you had been prepared to talk, after which not seconding the movement, which you’ll be able to nonetheless vote towards, seconding the movement will simply mean you can say what you had mentioned you had been going to say and also you didn’t try this,” Klufas mentioned to the opposite council members. “I simply need to be sure to perceive what you’re doing.”

Danko then responded.

“Can I reply Councilman Klufas? No. 1, I don’t want a lecture from you, Nick. OK. No. 1. No. 2, I’ve to say because you desire a response from me,” Danko mentioned. “It have to be a chilly day in hell at present as a result of for the primary time that I can ever keep in mind I truly  agree with the pinnacle of the (Flagler County) Democratic Occasion Mike Cocchiola.”

Cocchiola spoke earlier throughout public feedback and mentioned he opposed the proposed gross sales tax.

Danko mentioned the timing for a tax enhance was horrible.

“I’ve to inform you: elevating taxes on our residents popping out of this Covid virus, popping out of the lack of earnings that folks have suffered, companies have suffered, it is insane.” Danko mentioned.

Danko additionally referred to the previous Sheriff’s Workplace headquarters, which Sheriff Rick Staly ordered evacuated in June 2018 after a number of staff started growing signs of mould publicity. The county has put the constructing available on the market.

“Allow them to discover ways to tighten their belts and cease shopping for moldy buildings,” Danko mentioned. “However I don’t need them coming to us for canopy to get a tax enhance. So I’m against this. Thanks.”

Learn Extra:Troubled Flagler County Sheriff’s Workplace ops-center constructing on the market

Barbosa had additionally mentioned he believed the next tax would harm companies and immediate folks to drive to Ormond Seaside or St. Augustine as a substitute of doing enterprise in Flagler.

Whereas the problem by no means made it to a vote, Branquinho had indicated help.

Palm Coast’s Hearth Division mentioned it wants the cash the proposed gross sales tax would generate to deal with shortcomings with Hearth Station 22  at 307 Palm Coast Parkway NE. It was inbuilt 1997 as a volunteer station and is just too small to serve the wants of the rising metropolis and might barely match a contemporary fireplace engine.

Flagler County Sheriff’s Workplace Chief of Workers Mark Strobridge additionally spoke, saying that the Sheriff’s Workplace portion of the cash would assist pay for deputies within the rising metropolis. He mentioned the Sheriff’s Workplace will want one other 78 deputies by 2025.

Later throughout the assembly the division on the council was on show once more when Barbosa made a movement to think about holding each of the council’s month-to-month enterprise conferences at evening. Proper now, one is at evening and one is within the morning. 

Danko seconded Barbosa’s movement.

Barbosa mentioned he had heard from quite a few individuals who mentioned they might not attend throughout the day. Klufas countered that having each at evening would imply individuals who labored evening shifts couldn’t attend.

Branquinho mentioned that he believed that such a call ought to await the election of a brand new mayor.

The six candidates vying to be the brand new mayor are David Alfin, Kathy Austrino, Carol Bacha, Doug Courtney, Cornelia Downing Manfre and Alan S. Lowe. All are Republicans apart from Courtney and Manfre.

Danko, who has publicly said he’s supporting Lowe, advised they needn’t await the election.

“Possibly, we might ask Mr. Lowe, He’s sitting within the viewers,” Danko mentioned.

“Please, campaigning right here just isn’t allowed,” Branquinho informed Danko.

Danko mentioned he was solely joking.

Barbosa and Danko voted in help of fixing the assembly time. Branquinho and Klufas voted towards it.

The movement failed two to 2.

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