MONTPELIER — City Council plans to decide Jan. 24 whether to put a new tax on the March ballot that would provide additional funding to Montpelier Alive.

The new funding stream would help with streetscape improvements downtown and expand Montpelier Alive’s marketing with regional print and radio advertising, expanding the organization’s marketing to the Montreal-area market.

“We’re asking you to actually create a taxing authority to raise the money,” Montpelier Alive board member Sarah Jarvis said at Wednesday’s City Council meeting.

Montpelier Alive pressed the City Council to decide Wednesday on whether to endorse a new tax for the March ballot, but the measure was tabled, and Mayor John Hollar warned the nonprofit to not gather signatures if the council did not vote in favor of putting the measure on the ballot.

Hollar cited council member Tom Golonka’s absence as a major hold-up. Hollar suggested he’s receptive to the idea, but he said he would need the entire council to weigh in on the issue.

Only City Council member Alan Weiss said he opposed the tax.

Montpelier Alive, which would oversee the $75,000 generated from a 4.5-cent tax on certain downtown commercial properties, presented the proposal on Wednesday to City Council. Jarvis expressed concerns that if the council didn’t vote that night, the organization couldn’t obtain the nearly 700 signatures in time for a petition deadline to put the question on the March ballot.

For the complete story, see Friday's Times Argus.