DeKalb considering manufacturing excise tax

To make up for local sales tax money lost to a new state exemption for manufacturers, DeKalb County is considering levying a new excise tax.

The tax would apply only to energy used during manufacturing. The state gave local governments the power to levy the tax last year, when lawmakers agreed to gradually phase in a state tax exemption on the energy use.

Administration officials presented the idea to county commissioners during a recent retreat but were unable to provide how much DeKalb stands to lose from the state exemption or what a local levy would bring in.