Hampton City Council debates LOST dollars; invites public input

Reallocation of the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) dollars was a strong point of discussion at the Hampton Council’s regular meeting on Thursday, July 20. The council needs to have an agreed upon text for reallocation in order to allow the public to vote “yes” or “no” on reallocation in the November 2017 election, in to the county auditor by Aug. 29.
For the last eight-to-nine months, the council has deliberated on how to reallocate the dollars that are currently being spent on paying off the debt of the Aquatic Center. With the debt of the facility being paid off quicker than anticipated by the end of fiscal 2017-18. If the money isn’t reallocated by public approval in this November’s election, then the funds will then be allocated to financing the pool through fiscal year 2018-19. The council’s most recent proposal for the reallocation is 20 percent allocated to pool upkeep and parks, 20 percent to the Hampton Fire Department, five percent to the Hampton Police Department and 55 percent for use at the council’s discretion.
Read the full article in the July 26 edition of the Hampton Chronicle.