TAX NEWS - JUNE 2010

Missouri Tax: Tax issues could bring out voters

Greene County Clerk Richard Struckhoff predicts voter turnout Tuesday to fall between 5 percent and 10 percent in the city of Springfield, and as high as 20 percent in the Willard Fire Protection District.

Voters in both those areas are deciding tax questions.

"Turnout is ballot driven, and money issues tend to bring people out," said Struckhoff. "The bigger the issue, the bigger the turnout."

Struckhoff urged voters in annexed areas of Springfield to be aware if they received a post card alerting them to a change in their polling place. About 1,300 voters who typically vote at 11 polling places were moved for this election.

"We have four eligible voters in the Brookline Township," said Struckhoff. "Rather than opening a polling place for just those four, we sent them a postcard saying, 'For this election only, this is where your polling place will be.'"

In the city of Springfield, voters will be asked to renew a one-fourth cent sales tax for the Capital Improvement Program, generating revenue that pays for projects such as road resurfacing, economic development, traffic and safety signs, bike-route signs, road marking, and reforestation and landscaping in the city.

The tax has been renewed six times, but this year it has drawn opposition from residents who have been distributing yard signs. Opponents say people need a break from taxes.

If approved, the tax is projected to generate $26 million in revenue through 2013.

In the Willard Fire Protection District, voters are being asked if they are willing to raise property taxes 50 cents per $100 of assessed property value, which to the owner of a $100,000 market value home equates to an increase of $95 a year.

If passed, the all-volunteer fire district would hire 10 full-time firefighters to work with volunteers and build a centrally located fire station with living quarters.

Supporters say hiring full-time firefighters will help the force maintain or improve service.

Struckhoff said by Friday afternoon about 650 voters had either requested absentee ballots by mail or come to his office to vote absentee. The majority who have cast votes at his office did so because they'll be working the polls Tuesday, he said.