Watford City asking voters to increase sales tax

WATFORD CITY, N.D. (AP) - Voters in Watford City are being asked to increase the city’s sales tax.

The new revenue would be used to fund a new $57 million events center and other projects in the booming oil patch town.

The Bismarck Tribune (https://bit.ly/T48x5W ) reports that voters on June 10 will be asked to permanently extend an existing 1-cent sales tax and add another half cent at the same time.

Mayor Brent Sanford says the new rate would generate about $6 million each year.

The events center would be financed with the sales tax revenue and loans leveraged with the city’s share of oil tax revenue.

Other projects the city is considering are a new hospital, airport improvements and affordable housing.

Revenue bonds are expected to be issued to pay for project loans.

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Information from: Bismarck Tribune, https://www.bismarcktribune.com