Branson aldermen weigh 2027 state and local priorities including ticket-reseller taxes, TDZs and mental-health supports

The City of Branson held a study session to review possible 2027 legislative priorities, with aldermen and city staff discussing a package of proposals ranging from changes to the tourism tax and ticket-reseller practices to mental-health funding and corridor revitalization.

Alex Gerard, the staff member who introduced the item, told the board the study session’s purpose was to gather aldermen ideas and later convert them into a formal resolution for the city’s lobbyists and state partners. "This is really to host a public discussion for the board of Aldermen and mayor to collate and produce their ideas for the legislative session on both the state and local level," Gerard said.

Why it matters: Branson is a small resident city that hosts outsized visitor volumes and tourism revenue, and aldermen framed many requests as tools to help the city shoulder visitor-related costs, secure state matching funds and reduce local enforcement ambiguity.

Ticket resellers and tourism tax. Alderman Glenn opened the substantive discussion by proposing the city pursue state or local changes to ensure ticket-reseller fees and convenience charges do not avoid local tourism tax collection. Glenn said resellers often sell tickets well above the original retail price and "are not collecting taxes on ticket sales for theaters, amusements" and suggested placing Branson-specific language within the tourism-tax structure to limit out-of-state reseller lobbying influence. He added that raising the restaurant component of the tourism tax from 0.5% could be considered; "If you were to up the restaurant tax to 2%, you'd have an additional $2,500,000 based on the 2025 budget," Glenn said. Board members said they would first review a sports-complex study and the city’s capital plan before endorsing any tax rate change.

Tourism development zones and gateway monuments. Another alderman (Williams) recommended exploring tourism development zones modeled on Pigeon Forge and Sevierville as an additional state-level financing tool, noting such zones in other states rely on state funding streams rather than local collections. Williams also advocated for gateway monuments and improved signage along Highway 65, asking the board to work with MoDOT and state representatives on land-use access and liability concerns.

Infrastructure, blight and the 76 Strip. The board discussed water and sewer funding for heavy-tourism corridors and the long-deferred condition of the 76 Strip. Staff noted the city has budgeted $750,000 for corridor work and that the 76 CID has invested in earlier phases; aldermen pressed for near-term cleanup and a longer-term capital plan. Staff and an alderman also described a draft blight-demolition revolving-loan program and Opportunity Zone applications (M76) but said the city needs explicit statutory authority as a 4th-class city to operate such a loan program without litigation risk.

Lodging definitions and enforcement. Staff and aldermen requested the legislature clarify the state lodging code’s definitions for "permanent" versus "transient" guests (the present statutory threshold is 31 days). City staff said uncertainty hinders local enforcement and health inspections because some lodging setups resemble permanent housing but remain coded as lodging establishments.

Public safety and mental health. Williams described a personal experience and urged more state support for mental-health resources and tools for local law enforcement. Aldermen said addressing mental-health and substance-use issues is integral to reducing homelessness and improving community safety for residents and visitors.

Next steps and action. Gerard said staff would circulate the 10-item draft to aldermen for review and that the board would schedule additional study sessions to finalize the list. No substantive items were adopted at the session. The board moved to adjourn, the motion passed, and members planned to reconvene at 6:00 p.m. for the regular Board of Aldermen meeting.

Quotes that capture the meeting

"This is really to host a public discussion for the board of Aldermen and mayor to collate and produce their ideas for the legislative session on both the state and local level," Alex Gerard said introducing the item.

Alderman Glenn: "We realize that ticket resellers aren't collecting taxes on ticket sales for theaters, amusements... If you were to up the restaurant tax to 2%, you'd have an additional $2,500,000 based on the 2025 budget."

Alderman Williams on public safety and mental health: "There are some significant gaps that put our law enforcement professionals in an awkward place where they're trying to look out for the safety and well-being of all people."

What was not decided. The board discussed a range of policy options but took no formal votes to adopt any legislative priority list at this session. Staff noted some proposals may require statutory language changes and said additional study and legal review will be needed before forwarding items to the city’s lobbyists.

For follow-up. Staff will circulate the draft list to aldermen, plan a subsequent study session to finalize local priorities, and coordinate with the city’s lobbyists and state representatives about statutory authority (including possible amendments to section 94.815 referenced in the discussion).