Senior sales tax exemption headed to October ballot

A citizen initiative that would exempt Petersburg residents 70 and older from borough sales tax will go before voters Oct. 6.

In the local election last fall, Petersburg voters chose to eliminate the senior sales tax exemption that applied to all qualified residents over 65 and replace it with an income-based senior sales tax exemption. Petersburg residents will now be asked to restore the sales tax exemption for all seniors, regardless of income, with the minimum age increased to 70 years old.

On July 20, the assembly approved the first reading with a 4-0 vote. The ordinance did not originate...