Sales tax in Deer Park to remain 8%

A divided Deer Park village board on Thursday voted to leave the overall sales tax on goods purchased in town at 8% until 2031 rather than letting it drop to 7.5% in two years.

Voters approved a temporary half-percentage-point sales tax increase in 2021 and renewed it for four years in 2024. The tax generates 50 cents for every $100 spent, which resulted in more than $900,000 of extra revenue for Deer Park last year.

A recent change in state law allowed the board to implement a municipal sales tax without going to voters.

The measure to extend the tax to Jan. 1, 2031, passed with a 5-1 vote. Trustee James Oakley was the lone dissenter.