Ephrata considers tax increase

EPHRATA - The Ephrata City Council decided to host another pair of town hall meetings to discuss the possibility of a public vote on a 0.1 percent sales tax measure.

The additional sales tax would be used for the hiring of two officers for the Ephrata Police Department, according to City Administrator Wes Crago. The tax increase would be added to the November 2014 ballot.

The city hosted two informal meetings this month and have planned for two more in October.

The next meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 2 and the fourth and final meeting is at 10 a.m. Oct. 12. Both events are at Ephrata City Hall, located at 121 Alder St. SW.

Staff and city councilmembers will be available to informally discuss this potential vote and hand out information packets, including the Community Priorities Team Plan. The Community Priorities team was created to engage residents in setting the goals and objectives of the city during the next 10 years.

An additional series of public hearings are scheduled in October and November.

"These more formal hearings will be scheduled in conjunctions with City Council meetings, giving citizens even more opportunities to voice their opinions to the City Council and generally learn about the issue," Crago stated in a press release.