Bullock: Occupational tax works for people throughout Pulaski

By SUSAN WHEELDON, CJ Staff Writer
Commonwealth Journal

February 01, 2009 07:45 am

— Somerset Mayor Eddie Girdler said last week he is toying with the idea of the city enacting its own occupational tax.
However, Pulaski County Judge-executive Barty Bullock believes the current occupational tax system benefits everyone.
“The occupational tax dollars fund entities for all citizens of Pulaski County, such as our detention center, ambulance service, our 911 dispatch center, our county road department and our industrial development foundation,” Bullock said in a prepared statement. “Our five incorporated cities, which include Somerset, Burnside, Science Hill, Ferguson and Eubank, also share in these occupational tax dollars, which are divided between these five cities on a per capita basis.”
Bullock explained services such as 911, the ambulance service and the Pulaski County Detention Center are necessities to residents of all the cities, while the development foundation recruits jobs which may locate in any of the cities and county roads get traveled generally by everyone.
“As the Pulaski County Judge-executive, I have the honor and privilege of serving all the people of Pulaski County regardless of whether they live in one of the incorporated cities or out in the county,” stated Bullock. “I am firmly convinced it is critical now, more than ever, that we all pull together for the benefit of all citizens of Pulaski County.”
During the 2007-2008 fiscal year the county received $8,642,857.27 in occupation tax funds. The City of Somerset received $1,452,798.76 from that amount as 30 percent of the funds is disbursed among the five cities within the county.
Treasurer Arlene Young said if the City of Somerset were to enact its own occupational tax it could take as much as 70 percent of what the county currently receives from the tax.
Young explained that could possibly leave the other four cities without the money they receive, unless the City of Somerset wanted to share and it would also leave the county without enough funding to support 911 or the ambulance service.
Twenty percent of the occupational tax money also goes to the development foundation to help bring jobs to the area.
And Bullock believes the development foundation is recruiting new businesses well. Meanwhile, Somerset Mayor Eddie Girdler has also spoken of starting an industrial authority to change the way recruiting is done.
“Thanks to the foresight and wisdom of former elected officials we do have the occupational tax program, and we are very fortunate in Pulaski County that we have been able to recruit and bring good companies to the area,” said Bullock. “These are diversified companies producing varied products, and providing jobs and income for many residents of Pulaski and surrounding counties.”
Bullock said the occupational tax money has made it possible to bring numerous jobs to the county and city since it was enacted around 20 years ago.
“If you want to see the difference this has made, just visit some of the bordering counties, who have little or no industry,” said Bullock.
Bullock also noted officials have worked hard to make Somerset-Pulaski County area a true regional center for health care, education, commerce and industry and that it wouldn’t have happened without the full cooperation and participation from every governmental entity in Pulaski County. He noted that over 40 percent of those working and paying the occupational tax come in each day from surrounding counties.
“With our current economic situation, we can hang our heads and moan about the gloom and doom, or we can forge ahead with our industrial recruitment efforts and work hard every day to help meet the needs of our existing businesses and industry who provide the jobs,” said Bullock. “One person laid off is one too many, and we must work together to continue to bring in employees who can and will provide excellent jobs for our citizens.
“It is my goal as Pulaski County Judge-executive to be able to work with the mayors of all five cities to continue to move Pulaski County forward even in these unstable economic times,” added Bullock.


OCCUPATIONAL TAX FACTS

• Occupational Tax Collected (FY2007/2008): $8,642,857.27
• Funds Taken Off Gross Collection:
Occupational Tax Office Expenses: $206,246.26
Jail Fund: $257, 332 (3 Percent)
Ambulance Fund: $1,124,865.86 (13 Percent)
911 Dispatch Fund: $1,124, 865.86 (13 Percent)
• Net Collections: $5,929,047.29
Pulaski County General Fund: $1,185,809.45 (20 Percent)
Pulaski County Road Fund: $1,769,672.84 (30 Percent)
Industrial Development: $1,179,824.98 (20 Percent)
Five Incorporated Cities: $1,769,672.84 (30 Percent)
• On A Per Capita Basis:
Somerset: $1,452,798.76
Burnside: $114,368.83
Science Hill: $81,137.72
Ferguson: $79,902.32
Eubank: $41,465.20

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