The Warrenton Board of Aldermen unanimously approved holding an Aug. 2 election to seek approval of two half-cent sales taxes that Alderman Gary Auch considers vital for the expansion of the city.The first tax would fund a new Interstate 70 interchange west of Warrenton, between mile markers 190 and 191. It would expire once the city has paid the debt it would incur from construction of the proposed interchange.The second tax would continue after construction is finished and remain in effect for two years, expiring when the city generates enough revenue from the ensuing economic development to replace the tax.The sunset provision will not appear on the ballot, but it is in the ordinance passed by the board, which legally obligates city officials to follow it. Auch said the tax is vital so that the city does not gamble with citizens’ tax dollars and propose to pay for construction with projected revenues that could fall short.“The critical piece for the public to recognize is that the city currently, with the 1-cent sales tax, has enough revenue to pay the debt service on the interchange without economic development as a key factor,” Auch said.Although he opposed previous attempts to add another I-70 interchange, Auch said he did an about-face this time around because the tax would affect all of Warrenton and not just the districts near the proposed interchange, which he said would give certain businesses an unfair advantage. He added that a western expansion would have fewer hurdles than an eastern expansion and western expansion is part of Warrenton’s long-range economic development plan.“When you initially look at this proposition, and a number of people do, they go ‘well it’s more logical to go with an eastern interchange,’ ” Auch said. “When you dig into the details, you realize the number of hurdles it would take to do a project to the east. It’s problematic.”Auch said throughout Warrenton’s history, board members have had to make decisions critical for the future of the city. However, this time, the decision now rests in the hands of Warrenton voters.“This is a critical item for the city. When you look at the city’s history, there have been several critical times where the city made decisions that changed the future of the city and I think this is going to be one that we look back on in five or 10 years. I am fully in support of this.”City of Warrenton