Dunbar City Council on Monday night voted unanimously to increase its sales tax and reduce its business & occupation tax.
"Nobody likes raising taxes," Dunbar Mayor Terry Greenlee said. "But it is not on food, gas prescriptions or anything like that."
The two resolutions to implement a 1 percent sales tax and reduce B&O tax from .50 percent to .40 percent passed on second reading.
Greenlee said the change in municipal tax code is necessary to supplement the loss of coal severance tax.
The city estimates it will bring in an additional $530,525 in revenue after accounting for reduction in B&O taxes.
"But really what is going to help us is reducing the B&O taxes, which will hopefully attract new businesses," Greenlee said.
No one attended the Dec. 17 public hearing on the issue, Greenlee added.
Also on Monday, City Council voted unanimously to upgrade the city clerk's computer system to the tune of $11,796.
"We have to move with the times," Greenlee said. "[The new computer system] is a new and better way of keeping records."
The system will assist in keeping track of who has and has not paid B&O taxes, traffic violation payments and ensuring the city pays its bills in a timely manner.
"It saves us money because it saves time," Greenlee said of the new system.
The city's current system is at least five years old.
In other business, council:
n Approved Dec. 7 meeting minutes
n Honored Bill Brown as Citizen of the Month
n Recognized sixth grader Wendy Miller for her "heroic duty for the city" by assisting Dunbar police in an arrest
n Presented Christmas float and home decorations awards.