Jackson puts use tax on April ballot

Residents of Jackson will vote in April on whether the city imposes a local use tax.

After a public hearing in which two residents spoke in favor of the proposed use tax, the Jackson Board of Aldermen approved a measure that would put the use tax on the April 5 ballot and an initiative continuing the existing motor vehicle use tax.

The existing tax is levied on titles of motor vehicles, trailers, boats and outboard motors purchased from a source other than a licensed Missouri dealer.

The proposed tax, a separate ballot item, would extend the sales tax to all other out-of-state purchases.

Brian Gerau, speaking on behalf of the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce, expressed his support during the public forum, pointing out for people who already shop locally, the tax would have little to no effect.

"Number one, this is a pro-Missouri, pro-Jackson initiative ... that eliminates the incentive to buy out-of-state," he said.

He also expressed worry if the measure fails to pass, local businesses may be forced to consider relocating.

"We can't afford for our businesses to move to other states," he said.

The use tax also is expected to add several hundred thousand dollars annually for the city's coffers, as estimates from Cape Girardeau County treasurer Roger Hudson have indicated.

The existing motor vehicle use tax brings the city just under $100,000 annually.

Mayor Dwain Hahs said any funds raised by the tax first will go toward increasing manpower in the city's police and fire departments, then to providing capital for their operations.

A public-information campaign to articulate the tax's purpose is being considered, but the city is not permitted to advocate explicitly for passage.

"We are not here to sway the public's opinion either way," Jackson city administrator Jim Roach said. "But we do want them to be informed when they vote. ... It can be a complex issue if you let it become complex."

The proposed information campaign, which is in the preliminary proposal stage, would be similar in scale to the one used by the city during the run-up to the water-bond issue that voters passed in 2015.

The board expressed enthusiasm about the previous work provided by BOLD Marketing, and Roach said because only months remain before the election, he hoped the agency could be brought under contract by the next meeting Jan. 25.

"The information campaign [for the water bond issue] was very well done, very effective," he said, adding he expects a similar outcome this time around.

Also approved during the meeting was a motion to grant $20,000 to the Cape Girardeau County Transit Authority in a one-time expenditure, as well as an annual increase of $2,500 to support transportation services.

tgraef@semissourian.com

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