Christian County commissioners open discussion on proposed use tax; work study with community group set for Friday

Christian County commissioners opened a broad discussion Thursday about placing a county use tax on an upcoming ballot and scheduled a work-study meeting with Show Me Christian County to gather information and community feedback.

Presiding Commissioner Lynn Morris said the county must act quickly if it wants the tax on an April ballot: "We have a deadline of January 28th, 4:30, 5 o'clock in the evening to have our ballot language to the clerk's office," she said. Morris said staffer Austin has prepared draft ballot language that will be circulated to the commissioners.

The discussion matters because a use tax would shift some taxable purchases made out-of-state or online to the county's sales tax base, potentially restoring revenue lost to e-commerce. Commissioners debated timing, costs and messaging: Eastern Commissioner Bradley Jackson warned that the county is behind schedule for an April ballot and that a special election (for example an August special election) would impose significant costs on the county; Jackson estimated a special election can be expensive and urged confirmation about whether state revenue currently being collected would automatically be released to counties that adopt the tax.

Commissioners and staff noted practical constraints: state filing deadlines for ballot language, the county's inability to use public funds to advocate for a ballot measure, the expense of a special, county-wide election (commission discussion referenced a recent special election cost in the low tens of thousands for a single city), and the need for substantial public education. Commissioner Jackson said he was uncertain whether the Department of Revenue is already holding tax receipts that would be released if the county adopted a use tax'a claim he said had been mentioned elsewhere but that he could not confirm.

Show Me Christian County will lead a work-study session the day after the meeting to present information and recommendations. Morris asked staff to post the meeting notice in time for commissioners to attend; commissioners emphasized the session would be a work study with no formal votes.

The commission agreed that, if the county did pursue a ballot measure, it would need a volunteer task force, clear, non-misleading language, and cooperation with chambers of commerce and local businesses to support voter education and possible fundraising for outreach (county funds cannot be used to advocate for a ballot question). Commissioners noted that other nearby municipalities had put use taxes before voters recently and that the City of Ozark has tried and failed three times, underscoring the importance of good outreach and accurate messaging.

Morris said she would attend a Missouri Association of Counties meeting to survey what other counties have done. Commissioners concluded the meeting by asking staff and outside presenters to compile detailed cost estimates, confirmed deadlines, and model ballot language for consideration at an upcoming meeting.