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McDonald County commissioners hear 911 board request to earmark part of proposed use tax
Summary
At the Jan. 13 McDonald County Commission meeting, the county 911 board requested that 0.005% of a proposed 0.02% local use tax be designated for 911 services; commissioners also debated whether out-of-state online sellers have an unfair advantage over local retailers and began an official reading of ballot language to place the tax before voters.
McDonald County commissioners met Jan. 13 and heard a formal request from the county 911 board to earmark a portion of a proposed local use tax for emergency services. The commission also approved a routine accounts-payable item and began an official reading of ballot language to place a local use tax question before voters; the minutes do not record a formal vote to place the question on the ballot.
Director Ellworth Amos III, Operations Manager Kaylea Gibbs and Vice Chairman Robert Evenson of the McDonald County 911 Board asked the commission to designate 0.005% of the proposed 0.02% local use tax for the 911 Board to support emergency communications and related operations. The minutes record the request but do not show a vote or final decision on that designation.
Commissioners debated local economic fairness, saying out-of-state online retailers enjoy advantages compared with local brick-and-mortar businesses. The minutes summarize the commission’s concern that online sellers “continue to collect online sales tax and yet do not report it back to affect our local infrastructures,” while local vendors remit sales tax that supports county services.
The commission began an official reading of the proposed ballot language. The minutes record the proposed question as read: "In attempt to eliminate the unfair advantage enjoyed by out-of-state vendors, shall the County of McDonald impose a local use tax at the same rate as the total local sales tax, currently .02%, provided that if the local sales tax rate is reduced or raised by voter approval, the local use tax shall also be reduced or raised by the same? [] YES [ ] NO If you are in favor of the question, darken the oval opposite the word \"YES\". If you are opposed to the question, darken the oval opposite the workd \"NO\"." The minutes show the reading occurred but do not indicate that the commission formally adopted or certified placement of the question for the ballot in that session.
Votes at a glance: The commission signed and approved accounts payable for Facility Utilities in the amount $15,698.85; the minutes do not record mover/second or a roll-call tally for that approval.
The meeting adjourned; the commission scheduled a reconvening on Jan. 15, 2025. The minutes do not record further outcomes related to the proposed use tax or the 911 board request.
