Jackson to have use tax on April ballot

A ballot measure to impose a use tax in Jackson will be on the April 2 ballot, after action by the Board of Aldermen on Monday.

Before the meeting, Jackson Mayor Dwain Hahs said the use tax is important to help fund city projects, especially because sales tax revenue is flat and has been flat.

A use tax is a sales tax imposed on out-of-state purchases, such as heavy equipment or construction materials, or purchases made online.

Hahs said three key projects are being discussed as potentially funded by the use-tax revenue. Those projects were suggested by the results of the 2017 community survey, Hahs noted.

Curbside recycling is one project under consideration, Hahs said.

“In that area, we'd probably look at start-up costs,” Hahs said. “The service itself would be fee based, like trash collection, but we know there would be start-up costs of equipment, or bins. Use tax revenue could be a resource.”

A swimming pool to replace the city's aging municipal pool “has been on our strategic horizon for a while,” Hahs said.

And, he said, street lighting could be added on East Jackson Boulevard, between Walmart and Buchheit.

“It's a dark section,” Hahs said, adding he thought it would be a good project.

The Missouri Department of Transportation would need to be approached about the project, Hahs said, for permission to add the lights, but also for possible cost-sharing opportunities.

“I think we'll get a little more into it over the next few months,” Hahs said. “We'll be refining this as we go forward.”

The aldermen approved a contract with BOLD Marketing of Cape Girardeau to create and implement an outreach and education strategy for the use-tax ballot measure, at a cost of approximately $15,000.

Other action

• The Board of Aldermen regular meeting scheduled for Feb. 18 will instead be held Feb. 20, in observance of Presidents Day.
• The annual Park Day celebration will begin at 8 a.m. April 29 at Shelter No. 1 in City Park.
• E-Cycle electronic waste collection event will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 1 at the city's sanitation department building.
• The city's annual Clean-Up/Fix-Up Days Program will be held from June 3 to 7.

mniederkorn@semissourian.com

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