Nixa seeks 1/2-cent sales tax to generate $7.7M

The city of Nixa is seeking passage of a 1/2-cent sales tax that would provide $7.7 million in funding for a host of capital improvement projects.

If approved by voters April 8, the tax would charge Nixa shoppers 1 cent for every $2 spent and would expire after 10 years, according to information on the proposed tax provided by Nixa spokeswoman Jill Finney.

The largest portion of funding, $5.5 million, would be used to develop a park at Gregg and Northview roads with amenities including soccer fields, a multipurpose exercise trail, concession plaza and pedestrian bridges.

Other projects to be funded include:

• $1.4 million for improvements to U.S. Highway 160 and Highway 14;
• $885,045 for sidewalks in Nixa; and
• $385,404 for a skate park and improvements to Rotary Park in Nixa.

The city budgeted $8.2 million for the projects, and the remaining $529,601 not funding by the tax would come from the reserve fund of the city's street department. That fund would decrease to $1.5 million after its use to fund the projects, according to the data provided by the city.

Nixa, which currently has a sales tax rate of 7.5 percent, would jump to nearly 8 percent with the newest tax. That would bring the city to the same tax rate as Ozark and lower than most of the taxing districts in Springfield, according to the information provided to Springfield Business Journal.