Mississippi County officials worried after use tax defeated

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Unless something changes, Mississippi County will be tightening the belt after voters rejected a use tax.

Presiding Commissioner Carlin Bennett noted during the Mississippi County Commission meeting Thursday that voters "soundly defeated" establishing a use tax.

The proposed 1 and 3/4-cent local use tax was sought to replace the sales tax revenue lost by the county when the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that sales tax could not be charged for vehicles purchased out of state.

With voters rejecting the local use tax, county officials will be faced with "looking at a cut in services," Bennett said, unless the state legislature approves a bill and it isn't rejected by the governor.

Bennett said losing sales tax from vehicles purchased out of state could end up cutting the county's revenue by 20 to 40 percent.

Pertinent address:

Charleston, MO