Mark Andrews, Catoosa County News
Catoosa commissioners have approved an occupational tax to be placed on businesses outside the city limits of Ringgold and Fort Oglethorpe.
The tax, which was approved during a Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday, will not apply to previously existing businesses. It will come into effect in October.
County attorney Chad Young said the purpose of the tax will be to “keep track” of new businesses, as well as to generate revenue.
The tax will be enforced by zoning and building officials and is based on the number of employees at the business. For example, a business with five or less employees is exempt, while a business with six to 10 employees would have to pay $60. A flat tax rate of $400 will be required of law firms and medical practices.
Board of Commissioners chairman Keith Greene said the tax should add “more transparency” to the current system.
Also discussed in the July 7 meeting was Angel EMS acquiring four ambulances donated from Hutcheson Medical Center. Angel provides all emergency transportation in Catoosa to Hutcheson Medical. The ambulances will not be used due to their condition, but will be sold as scrap in order to accumulate funds for a new ambulance.
The county currently has about $75,000 allotted for the purchase of a new ambulance. The selling of the Hutcheson-donated ambulances should provide enough funds to purchase a new ambulance without having to use the allotted funds.
In other Board of Commissioners business Tuesday:
• The county approved the application for a fire department construction grant presented by Catoosa fire chief Charles Nichols. There is currently $210 million available nationwide in federal funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to go towards improvement of fire stations
• The county approved a bid by Chazler Inc. for about $798,000 toward improvements at fire station No. 7. Part of the improvement involves replacing the asphalt at the station with concrete due to damages caused by the weight of fire trucks. The project will be paid for with SPLOST (special purpose local option sales tax) funds.
• Catoosa Animal Control received $6,000 worth of a parvovirus vaccine through a grant from Pet Finder.
• County manager Mike Helton said the county is “finalizing” its contract with Panattoni Development. The county chose Panattoni to develop the county’s industrial site on Ga. 151. Helton said the county is already discussing future projects with the company.
