During Tuesday’s Branson Board of Aldermen meeting, Aldermen heard a presentation in favor of renewing the Taney County Sewer Sales Tax; the upcoming vote will be on Aug. 3.
Following a staff report, Taney County Regionals Sewer District Administrator PE. Brad Allbritton, and Taney County Partnership Executive Director Jonas Arjes presented information for the renewal of the tax. The tax was first voted on and approved in 1993. “That tax was put in place in 93 to start cleaning up the County,” Allbritton said. He said that to date the tax has generated a little over $171 million. “The fund balance is currently just under $7 million.” He said it is a lot of money that has gone directly to putting in central sewer systems throughout the County and eliminating pollution problems. “That’s the way we view ourselves in the County is to protect our waters,” he said.
Allbritton stated several benefits of the tax and listed projects that have benefited from it. “It’s important to note that this is a renewal of an existing tax since 93, it’s not an increase at all, it’s the same level,” Allbritton added. A slide that was displayed during the presentation slideshow lists keeping sewer rates lower as a reason to renew the tax. Later, Arjes made comments regarding the tax.
“He [Allbritton] cannot legally ask you to vote yes, I can,” Arjes said. “I encourage you and ask you vote yes on August 3 to renew this tax,” Arjes continued. He said if “you care about the drinking water and the clean water in this County you should support this renewal.” The remainder of Arjes’ remarks and the entire meeting can be found online.
Arjes said “if you look at rural sewer districts throughout the state of Missouri, we may be the only dedicated sales tax district” and all the rest are property tax based or user based.
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