Valley Grande’s annexation of surrounding areas is complete. Now the real work begins.

At Monday’s council meeting, the Valley Grande Town Council reviewed the town’s sales tax &045;&045; a subject of discussion since the council’s first meeting.

The town currently has a 7 percent sales tax. Four percent is for the state, 1 percent for the county and 2 percent for the town.

Story noted that those in the former police jurisdiction wouldn’t see any tax increase.

Story said he wanted to make sure area businesses had the necessary forms and information needed for tax collection.

Alatax, a tax collection company, is collecting the town’s taxes.

Those businesses brought into Valley Grande through the incorporation and first annexation stage began collecting sales tax for the town June 1. They’ll make a deposit to Alatax in July and the town will see the fruits of that payment July 20.

Businesses brought into the town during the second and third annexation stages began collecting the tax July 1.

The town will receive their first payment around August 20.

Story said plans for the monies included studies on the direction the town should take. Other plans included listening to what residents wanted &045;&045; a message some have already voiced.

He added, though, that the council wasn’t planning on spending itself into debt.

For example, Story said, Valley Grande wouldn’t need to spend itself into debt on a new city hall since it was refurbishing the old volunteer fire department next door to the Valley Grande Community Center &045;&045; the council’s current meeting location.

Story added that lights and the ceiling had been installed at the future city hall as well as air conditioning and some furniture. However, floor coverings have yet to be installed necessitating the council use the community center for a few more weeks.