Voters pass city tax renewal, new county levy

Voters yesterday gave the nod to two tax issues affecting the city of Springfield and Greene County.

Springfield’s level property tax was renewed with 10,292 votes in favor, or 75 percent, according to the unofficial results posted at GreeneCountyMo.gov.

The city plans to use the tax on upcoming projects including two fire stations and the replacement or upgrade of two others, a city-county jail expansion and historic City Hall renovations. The tax generates $8.5 million annually for capital projects via 27 cents per $100 of assessed value on property owned in the city.

The county’s bid for a new half-cent general revenue sales tax was successful with 14,864 votes, or 60 percent. County officials have said the tax, which doesn’t have a sunset, will generate $25.5 million annually for the jail, justice system and other projects.

Also on the Greene County ballot, a 2.25 percent use tax for the city of Battlefield narrowly failed with 248 “no” votes, ahead of the 244 “yes” votes, according to the election results website.

In Greene County, voter turnout was roughly 14 percent.