Bollinger Co. makes sales tax permanent

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Bollinger County voters decided Tuesday to make permanent a nearly 4-year-old half-cent sales tax.

"I'm just extremely pleased with the citizens of this county. They saw there was a need, and without it, I don't know what we would have done. Now we can go on from here," said Presiding Commissioner Wayne Johnson.

The tax passed by a margin of 603 to 359. Johnson attributed the low turnout to a lack of contentious issues or countywide races on the ballot.

The tax brings in about $280,000 annually and accounts for roughly 27 percent of the county's budget.

When the tax was initially passed four years ago, the county was $180,000 in debt and had a courthouse that needed both a new roof and expansion. Today, those problems have been remedied due to the tax, which goes into the county's general revenue.

Bollinger County relies on three half-cent sales taxes for 80 percent of its total budget.

Johnson made eight presentations to local groups in the weeks leading up to the vote. He said he was confident voters understood the need for the tax but was surprised by the margin of victory.

"I had a sense it would pass, but I had no idea by this much," he said.

Without the tax the county would have had to make difficult cuts, Johnson said, including the number of sheriff's deputies.

tgreaney@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 245