At its November meeting, the Sunset Hills Board of Aldermen read an ordinance on continuing the imposition of a sales tax of one-half percent (1/2 of 1%) for funding storm water control, as well as local park improvements, and calling for an election on the renewal of such tax on April 7, 2026. The ordinance was simply read for the first time by the board; action to pass or not will occur next month.
This ordinance was put before the board as the existing half-cent parks and stormwater sales tax is set to expire, or sunset, in September 2027. While the board seemed to be in agreement, all favoring the continuation of the tax to ensure the ongoing maintenance of park facilities and support for public stormwater improvements, they were split on implementing a sunset. The ordinance, as written, did not include one, though some believed it necessary.
“I don’t have a problem with this tax itself, but I’d like to suggest that you consider adding the sunset date to this tax. We did put a sunset date back in 2007 when I was an alderman, and I think that the voters should have the opportunity to review how the money is used,” Sunset Hills resident Frank Hardy — who served on the board from 2006 to 2012 as a Ward 1 Alderman — said during public comment. “I think any sales tax should have a sunset date on it for that purpose. Also, if money is no longer needed.”
When it was time for the board itself to discuss the ordinance, Ward 3 Alderman Cathy Friedmann immediately made a motion to include a 20-year sunset. This was met with some pushback. Sunset Hills’ newest alderman, Mark Colombo of Ward 4, brought up that in comparison to 2007, the city has significantly more land and public space to maintain perpetually. Colombo was on the board in 2007 when the original tax was passed, giving him a unique perspective.
“It is a modest tax to run a city with so much park space… 300 acres,” he said. “If we’re going to maintain all these parks and all this space we have — and it’s a glorious space, it enhances our community, it keeps our property values up — why put a sunset provision in it? If we don’t need the money anymore, we can enact an ordinance to terminate that.”
Ward 1 Alderman Brian Fernandez also mentioned that stormwater has become a more major issue than it was in 2007, citing three recent major floods.
Despite the conversation leaning towards not implementing a sunset, Friedmann held her position and kept her motion as is. Ward 1 Alderman Ann McMunn seconded the motion, though when it came to a vote, only Friedmann and McMunn were in favor. As the motion failed, the ordinance will be read at the board’s December meeting as it was originally written.
