Jackson aldermen approve $33M budget

A 2014 budget of nearly $33 million was approved Monday night by the Jackson Board of Aldermen.

The budget, which was unanimously approved, also includes sewer and other utility rate increases.

The rates for sewer and water usage will each rise 1.7 percent based on the Consumer Price Index. Electric rates will rise by 8 percent, and solid waste collection rates will rise from $2 to $5 per month.

"When you need to get it done, you've got to get it done," said Alderman Dave Reiminger, referring to the need for the rate increases.

The rate increases are scheduled to go into effect Jan. 1.

The aldermen also discussed the issue of the use tax, which is planned to go before Jackson voters in April.

"We'll need to have ballot language sent to the county clerk by Jan. 28 for it to appear on the April ballot," said city attorney Thomas Ludwig.

About 55 city and county governments in Missouri have a use tax. The use tax must be charged at the same rate as the state sales tax -- 4.225 percent -- but the two taxes have one major difference: If a purchase is made by a resident of Missouri within the state, that person is charged a sales tax. If a purchase is made by a resident of Missouri outside the state to bring back into the area to use and the retailer does not charge a sales tax, that person will be charged the use tax.

"The use tax will put Jackson's sales tax on equal footing with the state of Missouri's sales tax," Mayor Barbara Lohr said.

Perry, Bollinger, Scott and Stoddard counties have passed use taxes, as has Perryville, Mo. The Cape Girardeau City Council and the Cape Girardeau County Commission also are considering use tax measures to be placed on the April ballot.

Passage of the use tax will not provide the city of Jackson with the ability to tax Internet sales, Ludwig said.

"That's a myth that got out there," he said. "That can only happen if Congress passes a law allowing the states the ability to tax Internet sales."

In other action, the aldermen set a public hearing for Jan. 21 to consider amendments to Chapter 57 of the code of ordinances relative to electric utility installations.

klewis@semissourian.com

388-3635

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100 Court St., Jackson, Mo.