Sales Tax

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Renovations of a new indoor aquatic center are complete at Springfield's Doling Family Center. The pool was funded by a 2006 sales tax that included renovations to four other pools. It used to be an outdoor pool, so it was only open from about Memorial Day through Labor Day. Now they'll be able to stay open year-round. The 13,778-square foot addition features three pools: a 25-meter three-lane lap pool; a zero depth entry recreation/therapeutic pool with a water slide; and an area with aqua arch sprays, pools and falls play feature, water umbrella and a basketball goal.

The City of Springfield's October 2011 one percent sales tax check from the Missouri Department of Revenue is up 0.23 percent compared to October 2011. Revenue collected totaled $3,224,305 compared to $3,216,946 in October 2010.        Year-to-date, sales tax revenue for Fiscal Year 2011 is 8.9 percent above the previous year. Year-to-date collections total $13,786,999 compared to $12,660,398 last year - a difference of about $1.26 million.

Tom from Stone County called me complaining that his cell phone company charged him the Branson West sales tax rate even though he lives in the county.  This added about $1.50 on each bill.  He's not sure how long it was happening before he caught it.  He called the company and they agreed to reduce the sales tax he pays on future bills. Something similar happened to me.  I leased a car and about 2 years into the lease, I realized they were charging me Springfield's sales tax rate, even though I live in the county.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Local governments could once again be able to collect sales taxes on cars bought outside the state under a bill being considered by the Missouri Senate.   The Senate is expected to vote on a bill next week that would reverse a state Supreme Court decision that bars local governments from collecting taxes on such sales.   Counties and municipalities have already lost a combined $43 million in revenue since the court's decision.   Republican Sen. Mike Kehoe, a former car dealership owner, is sponsoring the bill.

SPRINGFIELD -- Greene County voters on Tuesday approved, by a 2-1 margin, an 1/8-cent sales tax to fund law enforcement and judicial needs in the county. The last time voters approved a tax for law enforcement in Greene County was in 1997; voters turned down similar measures in 2004 and in 2005. Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott said he was overwhelmed by the resounding approval from voters. "You think you have it, but you don't know until it happens. It's a great feeling, it really is, because people are sending us a message, and we're sending one back that we're going to do what you ask, we're going to be accountable with the money," said Sheriff Arnott.

BATTLEFIELD, Mo. -- Urban growth can be financially painful. Last Tuesday, voters in Battlefield rejected a tax to put more police officers on the streets of the fast-growing suburb between Springfield and Republic. With the defeat of the half-percent sales tax, the town's leaders can't do a whole lot. They’ll keep relying on the officers they have, and hope for the best. The town of about 5,000 has new subdivisions, new shopping centers, and a new Price Cutter grocery on the way. The growth brings the need for more government services.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo -- Halloween brings ghosts, goblins, tricks and treats, but the City of Springfield hopes it brings in revenue.  A busy Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas wouldn't hurt either. There is reason to be hopeful when you drive around town--new grocery stores, new restaurants, new businesses. However, that isn't the whole story. Springfield isn't out of the woods just yet when it comes to its recovery from the recession. "This is only our second year and we've seen nothing but growth.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.-- The City of Springfield’s July 2011 one percent sales tax check from the Missouri Department of Revenue is up 9.15 percent compared to July 2010. Revenue collected totaled $3,913,656 compared to $3,585,481 in July 2010. The July check is the first sales tax check of Fiscal Year 2012, which began July 1. Therefore, year-to-date revenues match the monthly figures listed above.  This is the fourth month in a row of positive sales tax returns for the City, compared to the same months in the previous year.

Springfield, MO - The City of Springfield's January one-percent general sales tax check from the Missouri Department of Revenue is down 11%compared to budget. Budgeted revenue for January was $3,323,500 and the actual receipts were $2,931,724. Year-to-date, the budget is $22,873,500, and actual receipts are $21,974,035. On a year-to-date basis, that puts the City down $900,000 or 4% below budget. Sales tax is down 5.1% on a year to date basis, when compared to the same time last year.

SPRINGFIELD -- Educating citizens about the law enforcement tax.  The Greene County sheriff along with a group of about 100 others went door-to-door Saturday in Springfield, to let residents know why they should vote for the one-eighth law enforcement tax. Sheriff Jim Arnott says if it passes it will help to fill gaps, not only on the officer side, but also in the prosecutors office and throughout the justice system. But, the biggest point the group is working to drive home, if the tax passes it won't cost citizens anything.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Springfield Mayor Bob Stephens outlined the city's standing in his "State of the City" address Thursday morning saying, "The fiscal state of our city is very strong. " Friday morning, Greene County Commissioner Jim Viebrock is expected to present an opposite view of the  fiscal state of the county. "It's dire," Viebrock told KY3 News Thursday. "We've been struggling through this recession in a serious way. " Viebrock has floated the idea of the county getting a larger share of the law enforcement sales tax it has shared with the city since voters approved it in 1997.

A proposed one-cent sales tax for transportation projects died in the Missouri Senate on Friday. If approved this issue would have gone to voters. Voters would have decided on a sales tax to fund $8 billion dollars in transportation projects. "Denying the people a right to vote is not the way to go," said Joe Carmichael. Carmichael is the Chairman of the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission. He says the bill had plenty of support, but a filibuster from a few is to blame.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Greene County taxpayers were told last year that passing a 1/8-percent sales tax increase, billed as a Public Safety Initiative, would help deputies do their jobs better, leading to a drop in crime and shorter call times.  On Tuesday, the sheriff said his department is still hiring officers, but taxpayers should expect to see those changes by October of this year. "We've hired 11 correctional officers, eight patrolmen, six detectives, and nine support staff," Sheriff Jim Arnott said in a news conference.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A developer on Monday withdrew his request for the city council to approve a proposed Community Improvement District for the Country Club Center shopping center.  That district would have been able to impose a special 1-percent sales tax to repay the owners of the shopping center for improving the building and its parking lots. The 55-year-old Country Club Center is on the southwest corner of Glenstone Avenue at Bennett Street.  It has multiple owners, including Jared Enterprises.  Developer Curtis Jared says he's had a difficult time convincing all the owners to agree on a renovation plan.  He said having the revenue from the CID sales tax would make an agreement easier to reach.

BARRY COUNTY, Mo --  On Tuesday, voters in Barry County will decide on a sales tax for law enforcement. It's one-eighth of a cent sales tax that the sheriff says would generated $450 thousand dollars. That's money he says the department needs to play catch up from hard times. The slogan is to Protect and Serve but due to budget cuts Justin Ruark couldn't do that. "Last year they ran short on funding. Laid four of us off, I was one of the four," he said. He got his job back, but he'd like to see the other deputies return.

SPRINGFFIELD, Mo. -- A developer asked the city council to table the issue of a proposed Community Improvement District for the Country Club Plaza shopping center.  The council was set to vote on establishing that district at its meeting on Monday night.  The district would have a special sales tax that would repay the developer for improving the building and its parking lots. The Country Club Plaza is on the southwest corner of Glenstone Avenue at Bennett Street.  It has multiple owners.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo -- The Missouri Department of Transportation is running on fumes for new projects. To remedy the situation a sales tax proposal is making it's way through Jefferson City. If it passes the legislature, the people could decide MoDot's fate in 2014.  MoDOT is not officially picking a dog in this fight, but they say the numbers speak for themselves. Its budget went from $1.2 billion to $700 million, cutting it in half. It maintains the seventh largest highway system in the country.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - City leaders in Springfield will consider a sales tax proposal to upgrade a Springfield shopping center. The Country Club Center has been in use since the 1950s, but business owners there say it's outdated. They're proposing a special sales tax -- up to one cent on the dollar -- to pay for the upgrades. The measure calls for more than one-million dollars in renovations. A decision could be made by the end of the month, and if approved, construction is expected to begin right away.

SPRINGFIELD, -- One of the oldest shopping centers in town might get a facelift.  Folks have shopped at the Country Club Center north of the intersection of Sunshine Street at  Glenstone Avenue since the 1950s.  Business owners call the center outdated.  They propose  plans for a Community Improvement District. This would create a special sales tax -- up to one percent --  to pay for the upgrades. This means customers would foot the bill.     The proposal calls for more than $1 million in renovations.  Supporters want to improve the parking lot and access to the shopping center.  They want to clean up some of the wear and tear.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Campbell Avenue between Mount Vernon Street and Walnut Street will be closed beginning at 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 13, for utility and traffic signal work associated with the streetscape project.  Motorists can use the marked detour via State Street, Grant Avenue, and College Street.  The sidewalk in this area will also be closed along Campbell during the construction.  Campbell likely will reopen by April 12, weather permitting....