By Dewey Terrill
JC Post
The action is not final but Geary County Commissioners have voted 3-0 in favor of a one percent increase in the transient guest tax paid by visitors using lodging facilities. A charter resolution must still be prepared and voted on by the governing body. The current TGT rate is six percent with an increase pushing it to seven. The new one percent would be added to an existing one percent fund that is already designated for a future sports complex.
Commissioner Trish Giordano made the motion that on first consideration passed 2-1. Commissioner Keith Ascher voted no but after learning that a split vote could allow a petition drive and force an election he changed his vote to yes.
The motion would allow up to $100,000 of the new money to be used for improvement of current facilities and the remainder to go into the existing fund. There Is more than $800,000 currently in that fund. There would also be caveats calling for the money to be placed in an interest bearing account and for the agreement to be reviewed in two years.
Legal counsel will prepare the charter resolution to replace an existing resolution and will now bring it to the governing body.