Vernon County voters to decide if big ticket items... - KOAM TV 7

Vernon County voters to decide if big ticket items purchased out of state should have a local tax

Next Tuesday voters in Vernon County, Missouri will decide if the county will impose a Use Tax on big ticket items purchased out of state.

Earlier this year the state of Missouri stopped charging local sales tax on purchases made outside of Missouri.

Vernon County officials say that is money they could use.

The county would change their Sales Tax to a Use Tax to stay within guidelines set by the state supreme court earlier this year.

Vernon County officials say that decision cost their county money.

Today, car buyers can go out of state and not pay local taxes on a purchase.

A "Yes" vote next Tuesday means out of state purchases will still be subject to a local tax.  Officials say that money amounts to about $57,000 a year and would help preserve county services like bridges, law enforcement, and the 911 center.

"The inclination when you see the word 'tax', it congers up something negative, but we wanted to make sure that the voters understand this is something that has been collected all this time until recently - it's not a new tax - it's not a tax increase - it pertains to purchases out of state and we see it as a pro Vernon County, pro local merchant tax," says Vernon County Commissioner Bonnie McCord.

Forty counties in Missouri have an out-of-state Use Tax.