Use tax approved in Dexter

DEXTER, Mo. -- Dexter voters approved a use tax in Tuesday's election.

"It was close," city administrator Mark Stidham said. "One good thing about it is that the state gave the people until 2014 to get this passed. It's great that the people have gone ahead and put this behind us."

Stidham has said throughout the year that a use tax was the only way to level the playing field for local businesses against out-of-state competition.

"It's only fair to our local businesses," Stidham said Wednesday morning. "They are the ones who pay the salaries of our residents and pay the taxes that keep our city turning. It's wrong for them to have been at an unfair competitive advantage from businesses across the river."

The tax most likely will take effect in November.

The use tax passed by a vote of 104-90.

Bloomfield, Mo., in Stoddard County has had a use tax in place for several years.

Pertinent address:

Dexter, Mo.