VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — A new proposal could add a sales tax for purchases at certain locations to help fund a new homeless shelter in Volusia County.
The plan is to build the new shelter next to the county jail and a new sales tax would fund it.
Volusia County and local city leaders are working together to raise about $1.6 million to operate a new homeless shelter each year.
The current proposal, which was presented to Volusia County mayors Thursday, would add a 1 percent sales tax on restaurants and bars that serve alcohol.
"One of the things we're trying to encourage is those types of establishments moving into our community," said Deltona Mayor John Masiarczyk.
Masiarczyk said the proposed sales tax would only cover about half the expenses to help get about 250 people at a time off the streets. The rest would come from the 16 Volusia County cities, which some mayors are against.
"We strongly agree that it needs to be addressed. It's a portion of the population that we need to take care of, but at what level should we agree to step into it?" Masiarczyk said.
Masiarczyk said the Deltona homeless problem is small, but they would be asked to contribute well over $300,000 a year. He feels that that number is too high for the amount of homeless they recognize are out there.
WFTV
