Sales Tax

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Greene County voters overwhelming said Tuesday that they want more sheriff's deputies, jailers, prosecutors and juvenile justice workers.  A proposal for a 1/8-percent countywide sales tax to raise about $5 million per year easily passed by a more than 2-1 margin.  With all the voted counted, the issue had 14,086 (67 percent) yes votes and 6,909 (33 percent) no votes. The vote is a victory for Sheriff Jim Arnott, Prosecuting Attorney Dan Patterson, Associate County Commissioner Harold Bengsch and Associate County Commissioner Roseann Bentley.   Arnott and and Patterson urged the county commission to send the issue to voters last year.  Bengsch and Bentley outvoted Presiding Commissioner Jim Viebrock, who argued that this wasn't the right time to ask voters for a tax increase.  Circuit Clerk Steve Helms, who is running for a county commission seat, also spoke against the issue, arguing the county government just needs to reallocate its budget to satisfy the needs of law enforcement.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. --  A hot topic of debate on Monday in front of the Greene County Commission was how to deal with jail overcrowding and other law enforcement needs.  An advisory panel supports a sales tax increase.  A public forum brought out nearly a hundred people, some who support and some who oppose asking voters for a tax hike. Presiding Commissioner Jim Viebrock has said publicly that he does not favor a tax increase. The commissioners as a whole do recognize something has to be done, but no decision was made on exactly what to do. The commissioners heard plenty of passionate speakers who weighed in on the issue.

Voters in Christian county will decide a sales tax increase for law enforcement this April.  The county is asking voters to extend a 1/4 cent tax for law enforcement services by removing a sunset provision and approve a new 1/4 cent for capital improvements to the county's justice facility.  Christian county's presiding commissioner says without the tax hike, the county may have to cut services.

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.

FORSYTH, Mo. -- Voters approved a sales tax increase in 2000 to help fund local parks and future parks in the community.  Now there is some question as to where the money has been going. It's a complicated issue and a heated one.  An alderman is blowing the whistle on what she believes is a misuse of funds.  However, the mayor and the city attorney believe they are using the funds legally and in a proper manner. "Eleven years later, what do we have to show for that $1.6 million?"

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A group pushing to eliminate Missouri's state income tax and replace it with a statewide sales tax thinks it can be successful where similar groups have failed in the past.   Let Voters Decide has begun running ads in the Ozarks trying explain the benefits but some local business owners fear it could be bad for business. "(We'll) be here 80 years March 1, next year," said Rick Perryman, owner of Barnes Town and Country. One of the things that Perryman likes best about the location of his business is that it lies just outside Springfield.

MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. --  It's a combination of increased jail costs and population versus a decrease in tax revenue.  It's the "perfect storm," according to Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery. Montgomery is looking to the voters and a proposed tax increase that would improve the department.  At the root of the issue, the Baxter County Jail is flirting with capacity and, thanks to increased costs of food and medicine among other things, the sheriff's department has already used two-thirds of 2012's budget to pay for 2011's shortfall.

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- The director of the Polk County 911 emergency call-taking and dispatch center says it could disappear if voters don't pass a new sales tax.  Its current computer system is made by a company that doesn't exist anymore.  If it goes down or breaks, the county has nowhere to turn for repairs. This is just one problem on a list of several for the 911 center.  Aside from the needed upgrades, the revenue from the current tax that supports the center is declining and, without a change, dialing 911 to get help may not give you the help for which you were looking.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.-- It's a sign the economy may be recovering; Retail sales in November were higher than expected nationwide.  Store sales rose an average of six percent, compared to a year ago. In the Springfield area, sales are up too.  At Target, the registers are busy.  It's a sign of the season.  "We're actually pretty busy today, for a Friday," says Christina Comiskey, Executive Team Leader at Target. It's also a sign of the economy.  In many eyes, things are a little better this year.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - The completion of the new interchange between U.S. 65 and U.S. 60 marks the end of a chapter in highway construction for the city. This end, for now, is being driven not by a lack of need- but money. "We have been talking for several years that our funding is going to really fall off a cliff as it will, and it has happened statewide," said Bob Edwards, spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Transportation. The funding shortfall means we won't be seeing as many lnew roads and bridges.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Greene County voters overwhelming said Tuesday that they want more sheriff's deputies, jailers, prosecutors and juvenile justice workers.  A proposal for a 1/8-percent countywide sales tax to raise about $5 million per year easily passed by a more than 2-1 margin.  With all the voted counted, the issue had 14,086 (67 percent) yes votes and 6,909 (33 percent) no votes. The vote is a victory for Sheriff Jim Arnott, Prosecuting Attorney Dan Patterson, Associate County Commissioner Harold Bengsch and Associate County Commissioner Roseann Bentley.   Arnott and and Patterson urged the county commission to send the issue to voters last year.  Bengsch and Bentley outvoted Presiding Commissioner Jim Viebrock, who argued that this wasn't the right time to ask voters for a tax increase.  Circuit Clerk Steve Helms, who is running for a county commission seat, also spoke against the issue, arguing the county government just needs to reallocate its budget to satisfy the needs of law enforcement.

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.

BATTLEFIELD, Mo. -- Two-weeks from Tuesday, Greene County voters will decide whether or not to pass a 1/8th cent sales tax to go toward law enforcement.  The town of Battlefield is asking for a separate half-cent sales tax for its police department.  Battlefield voters narrowly rejected a similar tax two years ago.  If passed this time around, the police department would add more officers to the current staff of five. The additional sales tax in Battlefield would set the city rate the same as other towns such as Ash Grove, Billings, and Strafford

Shall the County of Christian, Missouri, continue to impose the existing county-wide law enforcement sales tax of one-fourth of one percent by extending such tax beyond the term authorized on April 4, 2000, for the purpose of providing law enforcement services for the County? Shall the County of Christian, Missouri, impose an additional county-wide sales tax of one-fourth of one percent for the purpose of providing funding for law enforcement related capital projects including acquiring land and constructing additions and improvements to the County Justice Facility and furnishing and equipping the same?

SCHOOL DISTRICTS FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICTS CITIES AND TOWNS SCHOOL BOARDS Mountain View-Birch Tree R-III (Elect 2) Daniel Woolsey Beverly J. Denton Kevin B. Pruett Richards R-5 (Elect 2) Stace Kerley Mike Mayfield Will Jett WEST PLAINS R-VII (Elect 2) Brian Mitchell Jimmy E. Thompson Chuck Robson GLENWOOD R-8 (Elect 2) Jason Finley Charley Wilkening Shayne Eades OREGON-HOWELL R-III (Elect 2)

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The City of Springfield's March 2012 one-percent sales tax check from the Missouri Department of Revenue is up 38.16 percent compared to March 2011.  Revenue collected totaled $3,593,694 compared to $2,601,157 in March 2011. The 38-percent increase over last March is “artificially high.”  The amount of time the State of Missouri has to process sales tax returns received from businesses varies each month and impacts the monthly comparison. Year-to-date, sales tax revenue for Fiscal Year 2011/12 is 9.91 percent above the previous year.  Year-to-date collections total $29,325,835 compared to $26,682,286 last year -- a difference of $2,643,549.

PONCA, Ark. -- The National Park Service offers “Second Saturday” programs from January through March.  Participants can “experience” the Buffalo National River during this one-hour program that highlights the unique natural and cultural features of the upper Buffalo River. The program is suitable for parents and kids.  It's at the Ponca Elk Education Center at the east end of Boxley Valley.  Children can make a craft to take home.  All materials are provided. This event is free.  It's supported by the state's 1/8-percent conservation sales tax.  It starts at 2. If you just hiked Lost Valley and need to get out of the cold, this would be a fun option.

Voters today will have a chance to have their say on several hot-button issues on ballots across Greene County. Today is election day, and since Missouri Republicans are having a cosmetic primary with no delegates awarded based on the voting, officials expect a lower turnout than the last primary. But local issues are expected to bring voters out to the polls, including the biggest one right here in Springfield known as Question 1, regarding E-Verify. Voters will decide if businesses should be forced to make sure a new hire is legally eligible to work in the United States by checking that person's information in the E-Verify database.

All registered voters in Missouri may vote in a presidential preference primary on Tuesday, Feb. 7. There are also a handful of other issues on the ballot in the KY3 Viewing area. WHO'S ON THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY BALLOT Voters in Springfield will decide the "E-Verify" issue, which would require businesses in Springfield to use the federal government's E-Verify website to ensure people they hire are able to legally work in the United States. READ MORE ABOUT THE E-VERIFY ISSUE The city of Willard will ask voters to renew an existing half-percent sales tax and to make the tax permanent for municipal services.  Residents have been paying that tax for the last 20 years, but it is scheduled to sunset in July.