MARYVILLE (WATE) - Blount County commissioners voted Thursday to allow a sales tax referendum on the ballot for November's general election.
Blount County Commission Chairman Steve Samples said the resolution passed 19-1.
If voters approve the county tax hike, the rate would go from 9.25 percent to 9.75 percent.
The referendum will let voters decide to match the half-cent sales tax increase approved by Alcoa voters in the August 9 primary.
Alcoa's tax increase was targeted at funding a new $30 million proposed high school. By state statute, the vote opens the door for the county to match the increase.
Estimates show the tax could raise $7.6 million for the county annually, according to Blount County Director of Accounts and Budgets Randy Vineyard.
No matter what happens with a county-wide sales tax, the city of Alcoa will be able to keep all of the revenue from its sales tax increase for at least a year.
If the referendum is approved by voters in November, the county could start collecting the increased sales tax revenues by January 2013.
