Henry County adopts sales tax ordinance to fund law enforcement

Henry County commissioners voted April 16 to adopt ordinance number 04212026, enacting a county-wide sales tax to fund law enforcement after certification of Proposition One.

County Clerk Kelly told the board she had prepared an ordinance based on the county’s prior ballot-initiated ordinance language and had confirmed its form with county counsel. She said the clerk’s office must file the original order calling the election, the certified election results and the ordinance with the Missouri Department of Revenue this week.

Commissioners discussed timing and the overlap the new sales tax could have with the jail bond payoff, with one commissioner noting the possibility of paying the bond early to reduce the overlap and save interest costs. The clerk said she would research any statutory or contractual restrictions before the board altered debt-service timing.

A motion to adopt ordinance number 04212026 — described in the meeting as imposing a county sales tax in Henry County, Missouri for law enforcement purposes under RSMo 67.52 (transcript also referenced 67.582) — was made, seconded and approved by voice vote with no nays or abstentions. The clerk asked commissioners to sign the ordinance so she could forward the required documents to the Department of Revenue.

Next steps: the clerk will file the ordinance and election paperwork with the Department of Revenue; commissioners said they would follow up on whether early payoff of the jail bond is practicable and would consult the sheriff’s office before making any debt-service changes.