Bethel city council has granted some nonprofits exemption to city sales tax and has reopened the landfill to salvaging.
Nonprofit leaders and representatives spoke for almost two hours at the start of Tuesday’s meeting, explaining why their tax exempt status in the community should be protected.
By city law, nonprofits were supposed to be paying sales taxes since 2001. But the trend didn’t catch on for everyone, and the city didn’t enforce the change. Earlier this year the city announced it would begin enforcing sales tax on nonprofts beginning August 1.
Nonprofts banded together and spoke out, and council introduced an amendment to create a tax exemption for some nonprofts.
Council member Leif Albertson voted against the amendment, calling it "a blank check to nonprofits that could cut into the city’s bottom line." Mayor Rick Robb also voted against its passage.
Council member Zach Fansler, who introduced the amendment, voted in support with Council members Mary Weiss, Alisha Welch, and Vice mayor Byron Maczynski.
The council also passed a measure introduced by the mayor to reopen the Bethel landfill to salvaging.
City Manager Ann Capela unilaterally closed the landfill to salvaging earlier this year, citing safety concerns, among other reasons.
Two Bethel restaurants will have to wait for council to review their liquor license applications until the fire chief inspects their facilities.
