Voters To Decide Crawford County Use Tax

With a use tax set to appear on the April 8 ballot, Crawford County commissioners are discussing how to allocate the potential revenue should the measure pass. 

If approved, the tax could generate an estimated $1 million in additional annual revenue for the county.

A use tax is a tax applied to purchases made from out-of-state vendors that are not subject to local sales tax. In Missouri, this typically applies to online and out-of-state purchases. If a Missouri resident or business buys a product from a vendor that does not collect Missouri sales tax, they are required to pay the equivalent use tax instead.

The use tax is set at the same rate as the county’s local sales tax, ensuring that in-state and out-of-state purchases are taxed equally. 

However, the tax only applies when an item is purchased from a business outside of Missouri and brought into the state for use. 

The use tax would not increase the current sales tax rate. Residents will not pay a use and sales tax on the same purchase.

If Crawford County’s use tax passes, the largest portion of the funds is expected to go toward capital improvements for the road districts. A smaller portion would be allocated for capital improvements to county properties, and a third share would be dedicated to increasing employee wages and benefits.

Presiding Commissioner Steve Black emphasized the necessity of funding salary increases, noting that starting wages in nearby Cuba range from $19.50 to $20.50 per hour. He stated that the use tax revenue could support salary funding for an extended period, helping to address longstanding pay concerns.

Beyond salaries, Black highlighted the urgent need for building maintenance, particularly at the courthouse and sheriff’s office. The courthouse, now 130 years old, requires significant repairs, including new windows, but no external funding has been identified for these projects. Black suggested that, regardless of the tax outcome, the county may need to take out a loan to address critical maintenance issues. The sheriff’s office, he added, has been relying on temporary fixes to maintain its facilities, while the county jail, now 24 years old, also faces ongoing infrastructure concerns.

Commissioners Mark Pfeiffer and Jared Boast stressed the importance of flexibility in allocating the funds, suggesting that the ability to shift resources based on evolving county needs would be essential. Both also expressed concerns about rising road maintenance costs, which could result in fewer projects being completed if funding remains static.

Crawford County maintains 720 miles of roads—more than Gasconade (428 miles) and Phelps (591 miles) counties, and just shy of Franklin County’s 839 miles. Pfeiffer noted that despite having more roads to maintain, Crawford County has fewer residents than Phelps County, making road funding a particularly pressing issue.

Sheriff Darin Layman added that county employees receive competitive benefits and retirement packages, but improvements to wages could further enhance employee retention and recruitment.

Neighboring Phelps County is also placing a use tax measure on the April ballot, with plans to allocate 100 percent of the revenue to roads and bridges.