Impending sales tax increase triggers recall effort

Camp Verde resident Cheri Wischmeyer, front, has started a petition to recall several members of the Town Council in response to them voting in favor of a tax increase. Last week, she held an informal meeting at the old Boler’s Bar to explain her position.
Zack Garcia/Larson Newspapers

Four members of the Camp Verde Town Council, including Mayor Charlie German, are facing a recall effort as a new increase to the local sales tax is about to go into effect, Sunday, March 1.

The effort, spearheaded by Camp Verde resident Cheri Wischmeyer, is seeking to recall German along with council members Robin Whatley, Bruce George and Jessie Jones.

All four voted for the tax increase in January.

Vice Mayor Jackie Baker voted against the measure, along with council members Carol German and Bradford Gordon.

Under the new proposal, transaction taxes, which include the retail sales tax along with a number of other economic activities, will rise from 3 percent to 3.65 percent.

The increase in sales tax came after the town rejected taxing food in 2014, a proposal that received public opposition. The council had originally approved the tax.

A political committee, Citizens Committed to Reducing Regulatory Burdens, was formed soon after the tax was approved and went out collecting signatures in an attempt to force a public vote on the issue or to have it repealed outright.

To read the full story, see the Wednesday, Feb. 25, edition of The Camp Verde Journal.

Mark Lineberger

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