Miller County to vote on road and bridge tax

Miller County voters will be asked next week to approve a half-cent sales tax increase, which would provide funds to repair and improve the county's road and bridge system.

Miller County Commissioner Darryl Bunch told the News Tribune the resulting $1.5 million increase in annual funds will be designated for use only within the county's transportation department.

"The revenue from the tax increase will be used to pay for the materials, equipment and worker salaries necessary to bring our road and bridge system up to date," Bunch said.

The tax increase requires a simple majority in favor to pass.

County officials recently held several town hall meetings and have two more scheduled more before the election to educate voters about how the tax increase will affect them.

The first will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the Safe House section of the Iberia School District building, with the second scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Christ Lutheran Church in Lake Ozark.

If the ballot question passes, the tax increase will go into effect Oct. 1, and the county will begin receiving revenue from the increase the following the month, Bunch said.

In addition to the $1.5 million yearly increase in road and bridge money, annual transportation budgets would be increased for several local towns, villages and road districts. The amount each town receives would be determined by the amount of CART funds they currently receive.

Bunch describes CART funds as federal and state transportation dollars accrued through taxes on the sales and services of transportation-related items such as gasoline, tires, batteries and other equipment along with title and licensing fees.

The county's two road districts - the Bagnell and Kaiser special road districts, which do not receive CART funds - would instead share in the county's $1.5 million annual revenue increase.

The money would be used to pay the salaries of the 20-plus full- and part-time employees of the county's transportation department and to repair and maintain the 680 miles of gravel roads and bridges within its boundaries.

He said eight towns and villages within the county would also see an increase their annual transportation revenues so long as each signed an agreement that the annual increase would only be used within its transportation department.

The approximate amount of the annual revenue increase each would receive is as follows:

Village of Bagnell: $4,500

Village of Brumley: $4,350

City of Eldon: $222,750

City of Iberia: $35,850

City of Lake Ozark - $77,400

Village of Olean: $6,150

City of St. Elizabeth: $16,350

Village of Tuscumbia: $9,900