MONDAY UPDATE: County passes one-cent sales tax increase

By Staff
Jonathan Willis
The Franklin County Commission voted 3 to 1 Monday to implement a temporary one-cent sales tax increase.
The tax increase will be effective Jan. 1. The commission stipulated that the item will be placed on a June referendum in which voters can vote to keep the tax in effect for two years or remove it.
All of the money generated from the tax will be distributed to the local school systems. The county schools system will receive 58 percent of the money, while the Russellville city schools system will receive 42 percent.
Officials estimate the tax will generate about $2 million a year.
"This is a big relief for us," said county schools Superintendent Gary Williams.
"All this will allow us to do is pay the bills and pay the payroll."