Commissioners decide to try again for internet use tax in April election

“It doesn’t affect everybody, but it will aid everybody.”

That’s what Ozark County Presiding Commissioner Terry Newton said during the Monday morning commissioners’ meeting. The commissioners were discussing the need for what is called the “internet use tax” – a measure that has been put on the ballot twice and voted down by Ozark County residents, many who falsely believe that the tax is on usage of internet. 

The “use tax” is a sales tax on products purchased online or from a catalog. This “use tax” only applies to online purchases and is already being charged in most cases, Ozark County officials say. This is not an additional tax. Currently, Ozark County is one of the few Missouri counties that does not have a “use tax” provision. The county is missing out on thousands of dollars that residents have already paid on their online purchases that can’t be collected by the county, the county commissioners explained. And the lack of accessing the tax is having a detrimental effect on county finances. 

“We’re getting pressure from our legislators to get [this tax] in place,” said Newton. “There are grants and funding that are available throughout the year that we can’t even apply for if we don’t have this in place. It’s one of the stipulations, and [if it is not passed] you can’t even apply for the grant...You’re out of the loop. So we’re missing out.”

“There are many, many grants we could have applied for,” said Eastern District Commissioner Gary Collins.

“There were three different things last year that I looked at that would have been helpful. For all three of them, that was one of the stipulations,” said Newton. “I couldn’t even proceed with the application.

“It’s like I said, it doesn’t affect everybody, but it will aid everybody in the county. In most instances [the sales tax] is being charged already, but the state is holding it since we don’t have the use tax in place and we can’t collect it.

“It’s just getting what is already ours,” Newton said.

The other commissioners agreed with Newton’s assessment of the situation, saying that the use tax is a necessity for the county and its residents.

According to Newton, approval of this ballot initiative could bring the county more than $250,000 a year. He used the similarly sized Oregon County as an example.

“$24,000 was the first check Oregon County got. We’re going to be pretty close. If we’re in the ballpark of where they’re at, we’re looking at an extra quarter of a million dollars.”

Once in place, the county would get the money monthly. The tax would be split three ways with 50% going to general revenue, 25% to law enforcement and 25% to road and bridge.

Action groups

To educate residents and hopefully persuade them to pass the “use tax”, the commissioners plan on setting up action groups in communities all over Ozark County. These communities will include places such as Dora, Thornfield, Pontiac, Theodosia, Caulfield, Bakersfield, Gainesville, Isabella and many more. 

“We need to get everybody on board,” said Collins.

According to the commissioners, the action groups will include county residents of different ages.

“We’ve been making a list of people we’re going to try and reach out and talk to that are in every age group to try and help with this so it will appeal to those in each age group,” said Newton. “I’m not going to appeal to a 20-year-old like I would somebody my age.”

The commissioners ask that any county residents who would like to help educate others in the county about the ballot issue, please contact them at 417-679-4096.

Other business

The commissioners and other county offices will continue to work on the 2024 budget during January. The budget hearing is now open, and residents can see where the budget stands at any given point until the budget hearing closes Monday, Jan. 29.

Next week’s meeting will be held at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15. The courthouse will be closed Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The Ozark County Commissioners usually hold their weekly meeting at 9 a.m. Mondays in the commission’s office on the upper level of the Ozark County Courthouse in Gainesville. The meetings are open to the public. To contact the commissioners, leave a message on their office voice mail at 417-679-4096 or email ozarkcountycommission@outlook.com.