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Heather Mosley | SBJ

Tax issues up for vote in 3 communities

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On Election Day, city residents in Ozark, Monett and Strafford will weigh in on three separate tax proposals.

Ozark use tax
The city of Ozark is seeking voter approval on a local use tax to fund public safety.

The tax issue, if approved, would impose a 2.375% use tax at the same rate as the local sales tax rate for online and out-of-state purchases. The use tax is a complementary, or compensating, tax and does not apply if the sales tax is charged, according to the city’s website.

“Revenue from this local use tax would be used to assist in the operation of the Ozark Police Department, including but not limited to, meeting facility needs, services, equipment, compensation and training,” city officials say on the website’s information page regarding the tax issue.

Ozark voters turned down use-tax proposals in 2018 and 2020, according to past reporting.

City Administrator Steve Childers estimates the use tax would generate revenue similar to Nixa, which he said is comparable in demographics and household average income. Nixa voters passed a use tax in 2018, which generated over $663,000 in 2021, according to city officials.

A “yes” vote would impose the tax.

Monett use tax
The city of Monett is asking Lawrence County voters to approve a local use tax on out-of-state purchases online.

If approved, the ballot measure would impose a 2.25% use tax – same as the local sales tax rate – on purchases from out-of-state vendors, according to the city’s website.

“As internet purchases increase, local revenues decrease,” city officials say on an information page on the website. “Funds generated from the use tax can be used to pay for vital municipal services, including public safety, additional sidewalks and parks, and emergency equipment.

City Administrator Chris Weiner said the use tax is expected to generate an estimated $250,000 annually.

A “yes” vote supports the tax.

Strafford law enforcement tax
The city of Strafford is seeking voter approval to implement a three-quarter cent general fund sales tax to shore up law enforcement ranks in the community.

The Strafford Police Department has requested at least seven additional full-time officers on top of four full-timers currently on the job, according to a news release.

“The three-quarter cent sales tax would be dedicated to fund police staff and operations including adjusting wages to attract and retain exceptional personnel,” officials said in the release.

In the past 12 months, there were roughly 2,000 hours when Strafford Police Department officers were not available to respond to calls for service due to staffing shortages.

A “yes” vote supports the tax.

Comments

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user43010

Stafford wants 200% more cops than they already have? Why? They experience very little crime as it is. The Stafford PD receives as much funding, currently, as general/administrative and street maintenance combined. If you're going to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of taxpayer funds, why not put it towards something the taxpayers can make use of instead of the more boots on the street? Hundreds of thousands of dollars could be spent on education grants to allow Stafford teens to achieve an education. Educated citizens commit less property crime. Those funds could go to any number of social programs that could actually make Stafford a better place instead of a bunch up jackboots.

Wednesday, October 26, 2022
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