Tax rate in front of West Union’s decision-makers

(New development.  This meeting has been postponed, according to the mayor, for a lack of quorum.  It is to be held next week instead.)

A discussion and a vote on a new West Union tax rate is on the agenda for the September meeting of the town council, at 5:30 this evening at town hall.  There appears to be leeway for the town’s elected leaders, if they so choose, to raise the millage.  Executive Director Frank Rainwater of the state Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office sent the following comments to the town in a letter dated May 26 this year:  “The consumer price index increased 4.70 percent from calendar year 2020 to calendar year 2021.  The population of the Town of West Union increased 0.80 percent from 2020 to 2021 according to the annual estimates of resident population for incorporated places from the U.S. Bureau of the Census Population Division released in May 2022.  Combining these two components yields a cap of 5.50 percent on the millage rate increase for the Town of West Union for FY 2022-23.”  As late as yesterday, Mayor Oliver told 101.7/WGOG NEWS, the mayor does not believe the council will raise municipal taxes.