March 7, 2019
Voters to determine how sales and use tax can be used
City schedules two Town Hall meetings to discuss proposition
MURPHY (March 7, 2019) The May 4 municipal election ballot, in which voters will choose four members of the City Council, will include a proposition that will ask voters to determine whether or not a portion of the sales and use tax should be diverted to a street and sidewalk maintenance fund.
The proposition, called Proposition A, asks voters to decide whether or not half of the sales and use tax already set aside for the Murphy Municipal Development District (MMDD) should be dedicated for a planned street and sidewalk repair and maintenance program.
The sales and use tax, currently 8.25% on taxable products and services and paid by anyone making purchases in Murphy whether residents or not, is divided among various entities, with the state of Texas securing the highest percentage at 6.25%. The City receives 2% which is divided as 1% to the General Fund, .5% to Murphy Community Development Corporation (MCDC) and .5% to MMDD.
State law allows local governments to use a small percentage of the sales and use tax for local projects. In 2011, voters in Murphy approved the use of .5%, or one-half of one cent, for projects and programs overseen by the MMDD.
In May, voters will be asked whether or not to divide the half-cent used for MMDD programs into two quarter-cent (.25%) funds, one to remain as funding for the MMDD, and the other quarter-cent set aside for a street and sidewalk maintenance and repair fund.
Should the voters decide to approve the split, City personnel would implement a program that would target a select set of streets and sidewalks for repair or maintenance. The thoroughfares targeted in the program would be confined to streets solely under the control of the City of Murphy, rather than roadways such as FM 544, which is a state-controlled road.
Approval would require a majority of voters voting “For” on the ballot. Should the measure not prevail, there would be no change to the current assignment of the MMDD funding.
Two Town Hall meetings are scheduled to share information on the proposition, on Thursday, April 4 at 6 p.m. and Saturday, April 6 at 9 a.m. Both Town Halls occur at Council Chambers, 206 N. Murphy Road.
Early Voting begins on April 22, approximately two weeks ahead of the May 4 election, and the last day to register to be eligible to vote in this election is April 4.