Voters turn down Ozark County’s proposed ‘use tax’ for second time

For the second time, in a similar defeat margin as the first attempt, Ozark County voters have turned down a proposal by Ozark County to pass a “use tax,” a 2.5 percent sales tax on purchases made through the internet and catalog sales. 

The use tax would have created additional revenue for the county with 1.5 cents per dollar spent online going toward the county’s General Revenue Fund, a half-cent per dollar going toward the law enforcement fund and another half-cent per dollar spent benefitting the county’s Road and Bridge Department. 

The measure was defeated by a vote of 640 (63 percent) no to 372 (37 percent) yes during Tuesday’s General Municipal Election.

The county attempted to pass the measure in the 2020 General Municipal Election, but it was voted down then by a vote of  786 (68 percent) to 373 (32 percent). 

The unofficial election results released Tuesday night by Ozark County Clerk Brian Wise indicated that 1,012 votes were case in the race compared with 1,159 votes cast on the issue in 2020. 

We'll have more details, including precinct vote totals, in next week's Times. 

Ozark County Times

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PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

Phone: (417) 679-4641
Fax: (417) 679-3423