Sales Tax Review Committee

Sales Tax Review Committee

Objective - A simpler, more equitable, and more progressive sales tax system.

Membership - Assembly member Chris Moss will chair the committee. Committee members will include assembly members Paul Fischer and Pete Sprague. Jeffrey Sinz - Finance Director, Troy Tankersley -Sales Tax Supervisor, and Colette Thompson - Borough Attorney will represent the administration. Clerical support will be provided by the Clerk's Office. Additional input will be provided by Finance Department personnel with relevant experience, from representatives of organized cities located within the borough, and from others as deemed appropriate by the committee.

Tasks and Deliverables - The committee will examine the current sales tax code; identify areas of perceived inequity and/or regression; identify, research and analyze potential revisions to the sales tax code; and, recommend changes to the borough sales tax code deemed appropriate by the committee. The analysis, conclusions, and recommendations of the committee will be documented in a formal report that will be published on or about March 15, 2002.

Time Frame - The committee plans to complete its analysis and recommendations by March 15, 2002. It is anticipated that implementation of committee recommendations will require adoption of an ordinance changing the borough sales tax code. The ordinance will be introduced at the April 2, 2002 assembly meeting with public hearing scheduled for April 16 and May 5, 2002. Final assembly action is anticipated to occur on May 5, 2002.

Work Plan - The following general work plan will facilitate completion of the project as proposed:

December 12 Organizational Meeting / Project Scope / Identify Resources

January 4 Finalize project Scope / Review Current Sales Tax Code

January 18 Identify Specific Areas of Potential Change / Assign Research

February 1 Preliminary Research Reports / Identify Areas for Additional Research

February 15 Committee Agreement on Areas of Proposed Change / Final Research Assignments