Council rejects homeless tax

By a 4-3 vote, the Shelton City Council on Tuesday evening rejected passing a sales tax increase of 0.01% on taxable goods in the city, designed to collect about $310,000 per year to help house the homeless and provide them services.

Mayor Eric Onisko and council members Tom Gilmore and Miguel Guttierez voted for the tax. Deputy Mayor Sharon Schirman and council members Melissa Stearns, Lyndsey Sapp and George Blush voted against it.

Eleven residents stepped up to the microphone during the public hearing — six of them said they favored the tax and five said they opposed it.

City Manager Mark Z...