Carl Henson, Catoosa County’s financial officerRINGGOLD, Ga. – The tornado that flattened homes and businesses across Ringgold may also have pancaked Catoosa County revenues for May.
But officials said Tuesday they hope that money made through rebuilding efforts will prop up local sales taxes until business owners can be back on their feet.
“I’m projecting that the rebuild will offset the loss,” Carl Henson, Catoosa County’s financial officer, said during Tuesday’s County Commission meeting.
Officials are concerned about May sales tax returns, due out later this month, because many businesses damaged in the April 27 storms still have not reopened. Like most counties, Catoosa gets a significant portion of the income it uses to fund roads, schools and other services from sales tax – and businesses can’t collect taxes if they aren’t open.
But Henson and County Commission Chairman Keith Greene are hoping the businesses that remained open sold enough building materials, chain saws, tarpaulins and other recovery-related products to make up the loss.