Mo. voters to decide about 230 tax, bond issues, some locally

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Residents across Missouri will be voting on about 230 local tax and bond issues in April elections.

The tally of ballot measures comes from Americans for Prosperity, a group that advocates for lower taxes and limited government.

The election list includes local sales and use taxes, property taxes and bond issues being proposed by counties, cities, school boards and fire and ambulance services.

Patrick Werner, the Missouri director of Americans for Prosperity, said tax and bond issues will go before voters in about 85 percent of the state's counties. He said the number of local revenue issues should give pause to state lawmakers who also are considering a transportation sales tax and a nearly $1 billion bonding plan.

Voters in the Southeast Missouri counties of Bollinger, Perry and Scott will decide in April whether governments can charge a use tax that officials say is needed to make up for lost revenue after a 2012 ruling by the Missouri Supreme Court invalidating the collection of sales tax on out-of-state vehicle purchases. The city of Perryville has also placed a use tax measure on the ballot. If approved by voters, municipalities could collect a tax on out-of-state and person-to-person vehicle purchases. The amount of the tax would be equal to the sales tax rate charged in each county. In Bollinger County, the tax rate is 1.75 cents on the dollar; in Perry County and the city of Perryville, the rate is 1.875 cents; and in Scott County, the rate is 1 cent.

In the Kelly School District, voters will decide on a $3 million bond issue to fund construction of classroom and kitchen space.