Submitted Photo Rep. Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster, is pictured making comments on the House floor.

A Lancaster County Democrat wants to give counties and municipalities the option to enact a 1% sales tax to help raise additional revenue.

Rep. Mike Sturla, D-Lancaster, recently introduced House Bill 2330. The legislation would give county commissioners the option of levying the optional sales as well as the ability to later repeal the tax. If commissioners chose to pursue the tax, the county’s voters would then be able to vote on a referendum in the next election.

Sturla said the tax could be useful to counties that have growing amounts of tax-exempt properties.

“Revenue generated by this sales tax shall be allocated to counties and municipalities based on the assessed value of tax-exempt properties if they were taxable in each municipality located in the county,” Sturla wrote in his legislative memorandum. “If revenue generated exceeds or does not cover the assessed value of tax-exempt properties for both the county and municipality, then the money shall be distributed proportionally on a pro-rated basis based on millage rate of the county and municipality. Counties and municipalities could use this revenue to pay pension obligations and maintain core services, such as police, fire, public works, parks, libraries and administrative services.”

It’s unlikely Sturla’s legislation becomes law. Since its introduction, it has only attracted two co-sponsors: Carol Hill Evans, D-York, and Thom Welby, D-Lackawanna. It has been referred to the House Local Government Committee.