Senior center sales tax to be decided Aug. 8

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Bollinger County voters will decide the future of a proposed hike in the county-wide sales tax for the senior center in the Aug. 8 primary election as well as pick between two first-time office-seekers vying for the soon-to-be-vacated recorder of deeds seat.

The eighth-cent sales tax increase would generate about $70,000 a year for the Tri-City Senior Citizens Nutrition Center, said director Martha Peters, who lobbied the county commission to place the issue on the ballot.

The tax-increase proposal "came about out of desperation for funds, actually," Peters said. "For the past two years, our funds keep getting cut back, and we knew we had to do something."

In 2004, the state and federal departments of health cut the center's budget by $16,000, Peters said, leaving them with $119,000 this year to run the center. It provides a noon meal to senior citizens five days a week and through Meals on Wheels, in which food is delivered to their home.

"When you're working on a bare-bones budget already, what are you going to do?" Peters said, adding that they've had to fire a part-time dishwasher and a part-time book-keeper.

The center serves 40 meals a day at its center in Marble Hill and delivers 45 a day to seniors who can't leave home, Peters said. The center served a total of 21,667 meals last year, she said.

The proposal, which requires a simple majority to pass, would increase the county sales tax by one-eighth of one cent. The county sales tax is currently 5.725 and Marble Hill's tax rate is 7.225, according to county clerk Diane Holzum.

Holzum predicted that about 1,800 of Bollinger County's 7,400 registered voters would turn out at the polls.

If the measure passes, Peters hopes to buy new equipment, hire another cook and possibly give the employees health-care benefits.

"I would like to also make improvements every once in a while as the need comes up," she said. "As it is, we really just don't have the money."

In the county's only contested race, Republican Dana Fulbright will face Linda Schreckenberg for the recorder of deeds seat, which is being vacated by Winonah "Sissy" Ossig. The winner of the primary election will run against Democrat Patti Barrett, who is unopposed in the primary.

All three women currently work in the Bollinger County Courthouse, though none has run for public office before. Barrett works in the circuit clerk's office, Fulbright is the deputy recorder and Schreckenberg is deputy county clerk.

Schreckenberg said she decided to run because she thought it would be a good opportunity.

"I think I would enjoy it," she said. "I've been in the courthouse for eight years, and that would be something new. I have enjoyed working with the people of Bollinger County. They know my character and my integrity."

Fulbright said she is in tune with the position she is seeking because she understands the duties of county recorder, which include maintaining copies of all surveyed plats, keeping plat books and keeping indexes of the plats.

"I feel like by having this job I feel like it's a good foot in the door," she said. "I'm responsible, dedicated and pay a lot of attention to detail."

Bollinger County has 10 unopposed races in the primary.

smoyers@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137

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Linda Schreckenberg

Party: Republican

Office sought: Recorder of deeds

Age: 56

Occupation: Deputy county clerk for eight years

Education: Sikeston Senior High School

Personal: Married to Vince, the Bollinger County road and bridge supervisor; two sons, Clay, 33, and Brock, 25.

Political experience: None

Dana Fulbright

Party: Republican

Office sought: Recorder of deeds

Age: 33

Occupation: Deputy recorder for four years

Education: Zalma High School, 1991

Personal: Married to Jimmy for 13 years with two children, Hunter, 12, and Hannah, 18; and one grandson, Kaden, 10 months

Political experience: None