Henderson Mayor Hopes to Avoid sewer fee hit

At Monday’s Town Council meeting, Mayor Sherbin Collette reiterated his warning that if voters on April 9 don’t authorize the rededication of a penny sales tax to allow some of the revenue to be used by the sewage system, citizens will be paying higher sewer fees here.
The proposal, on the ballot of a special election, will not cause taxes to go up but rather will allow the town to use some of the money raised to be spent on other projects, including also drainage, public buildings and recreational facilities.
Nor is it a renewal; the 1-cent sales tax was passed in perpetuity back in 1972.
As currently authorized, however, revenue from the tax is allocated only to road maintenance.
Allowing part of the tax revenue to go to the sewer system depreciation account was recommended by the town’s independent auditor last year.
Collette said the proposed partial reallocation will satisfy depreciation requirements while leaving sufficient funds in road maintenance accounts.
The town is anticipating increased demands on the sewer system if a proposed annexation of businesses north of I-10 is successful.