Plymouth City Leaders Describe Goals of Possible Sales Tax Referendum

Plymouth City Leaders are putting out the word on what they want to use revenue from a proposed half-percent sales tax increase that voters could decide in November.

“We are hoping to support some big investments in improving some of our big recreational facilities across the city,” said City Councilmember and Deputy Mayor Clark Gregor. “To do that, we’re asking the legislature for permission to implement this local sales tax.”

If the state legislature approves the measure, it will go on the general election ballot, Gregor said.

The revenue would help fund three major recreation-related improvements in the city, he said.

Plymouth Ice Center

The improvements would include another sheet of ice at the Plymouth Ice Center.

“The ice center is several decades old. It’s in need of a lot of maintenance and repairs, and there’s a lot of demand from the community for ice time,” said Gregor.

Fieldhouse Dome

The temporary/seasonal field house dome at the Plymouth Community Center would be replaced by a permanent structure if the funding is available, Gregor said.

“It would have a walking track and really allow for more year-round recreational activities that cover a lot more recreation needs,” he said.

Four Seasons Mall Site

Finally, the new construction the city wants to undertake would also involve a year-round recreation site complete with athletic fields and a covered outdoor skating and ice rink at the site of the former Four Seasons Mall at Highway 169 and Rockford Road.

Gregor said the reason the city doesn’t seek more of a levy increase on property taxes to pay for these improvements is that Plymouth residents are the only people who use the city’s facilities.

“One of the reasons we thought about a sales tax instead of a property tax is that visitors coming to town would help pay for those facilities, not just residents,” he said.

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