The Hazelwood City Council at its  meeting Wednesday night (May 21)   considered two referendums for placing two revenue generating measures before voters as early as the Aug, 5^th primary.

At its meeting earlier this month, the council  gave a first reading to a bill that calls for a one-fourth-cent increase in the city’s sales tax, which is now 8.613 percent. It would be used for  fire department operations, which currently has about a $4 million annual budget.

At that meeting another bill that proposes to voters a six percent tax to be added to most residential utility bills was tabled until the May 21^st meeting.

City Manger Matt Zimmerman had  said the city was trying to decide if both should be submitted for a vote, or do they just submit one.  The city has recently asked residents to respond to a survey on the city’s financial situation by going to the city’s website (www.hazelwoodmo.org) .

Zimmerman said that city revenues have lagged behind expenses in recent years and the city moved from a budget surplus to a budget deficit starting in 2012.

Hazelwood made it easy for those with limited internet access to fill out a hard copy by going to  three city locations. The city is projecting a $1.6 million budget deficit.

It was estimated that the 6 percent increase in the utility tax would raise about $1.3 annually and quarter-cent sales tax would raise an additional $1.1 million.

Hazelwood needs to approve the measures, either one or both, soon in order to be placed on the Aug. 5^th primary ballot.

(The Independent News went to press before the meeting Wednesday night)         -Bob Lindsey

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