Ozark Countians to decide proposed half-cent local law enforcement sales tax

Ozark County voters will go to the polls on Nov. 8 to vote on a half-cent sales tax proposal to fund law enforcement in Ozark County.

The proposal would add to a half-cent sales tax that is already in place for law enforcement, making the sales tax rate in Ozark County for law enforcement one full cent.

According to County Clerk Brian Wise, a half-cent sales tax is expected to bring in a little over $400,000 per year in revenue.

For years the Ozark County Sheriff’s Department and the jail have been inadequately funded, with their budgets running around $815,000 annually. County commissioners have been supplementing the sheriff’s budget with money from the county’s general revenue fund, but officials say that with inflation rising and sales tax revenues flattening, the county cannot continue to move money from the general revenue fund each year to prop up the sheriff’s department.

“The half-cent sales tax has never fully funded the sheriff’s department in all the years I’ve been here,” said Wise.

Sheriff Cass Martin has taken drastic steps this year, including cutting seven positions and scaling back patrols to keep the budget out of the red ink.

“It’s not like we can operate in the red,” said Presiding County Commissioner John Turner. “We’re not like the federal government, we have to balance our budgets.”

Martin has conducted several “meet the sheriff” events around the county to talk about the budget issues, the sales tax and law enforcement in the county in general.

The sheriff said he is optimistic after talking to people in the county about the issues.

“I think when people understand the issue, they’re going to be in favor it,” Martin said. 

“Nobody likes new taxes,” Turner said. “In all my years as commissioner I’ve never asked voters for a new tax, but we have to have law enforcement. We have to have law and order,” Turner said.

“It’s a fair tax,” Turner continued. “People who visit here and tourists will help pay for this and that’s a good thing.”

Martin wanted voters to make sure and know that the sales tax has nothing to do with property taxes.

“This won’t affect property tax at all,” the sheriff said.

Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

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