Not my tax dollars! (Springfield, Jefferson City: sales, 2011, crime)

[mongazid]

NO more purchases in Springfield for this family!

[mcol]

I totally agree.
Can you believe that??
Nuff said, LOL.

[mrschilicook]

Can't say I like the idea of increased sales tax, but it's better than what the courts may have imposed.

But then WHERE are you going to shop? Branson has higher sales tax in general and higher still in the TIFF areas (close to 10%).

Just curious as to the "where" in this equation.

[mongazid]

Well, when not in alaska, our farm is ozark county. So west plains or mountain home ark. But alot of it is just the principal of it all. Although I havent been back home for this current campain, the ones in the past have been just outreagous. They said that they are going to sue the city if the tax increase did'nt pass. And they said they were going to get there money one way or the other. This because of the economic down turn. Well thats just tuff-luck, the economy hurts everybody.

[mcol]

I followed this with interest. In the past few weeks every
single crime was reported on the news, scaring the old folks.
Ever since the tax was voted down last February, they
have been cutting services. I said it was time to vote
these people out!

I shop locally when possible, West Plains. Other times I shop
on the internet. It IS the principle, which is why I hate to
buy things here in the CID areas and TIF areas, so shopping
online saves me both the city taxes, plus I don't spend anything
on gas, eating out, buying junk I don't need, etc. Many times
I get free shipping as well.

[GeekOfTheOzarks]

I think FedEx and UPS are definitely two big winners here. Many Americans are passive observers or they don't see what's happening at all. They will take a new tax on the chin and keep on chugging along. However, the more active (and proactive) folks will, without a doubt, decide to start buying more online to avoid paying local taxes. I shop online all the time and continue to ask myself why not buy more that way?

If I'm impressed with the way a local government is running things then I'm happy to pay taxes and will support them in other ways too, if not then I certainly see no reason to give them any more money than I have to.

[ShadowCaver]

For those interested, the following are some articles/opinions on what occurred here:

Area residents mixed on sales tax hike | News-Leader.com | Springfield News-Leader

On Wednesday, a day after Springfield voters approved the police-fire pension 3/4-cent sales tax, Cummings stood outside an Ozark thrift store and cringed as she assessed the ways the increase will affect her pocketbook. The hike will mean $7.60 in sales taxes on a $100 purchase in Springfield -- still less than in Ozark and Republic but now slightly more than Nixa. ...
At the Sam's Club on South Campbell Avenue in far south Springfield, the sales tax rate will be 8.6 percent. Anyone who shops in the boundary where two CIDs overlap -- the downtown and College Station -- will see the increase jump to 9.85 percent. But ... "The sales tax won't outweigh the high prices I might pay somewhere else, said Kathy Elliott of Marshfield, where the sales tax rate is 8.05 percent. ...

Final Push For Pension Tax, Many Still against it.

In just a few days Springfield voters will have their say on one of the biggest issues this city has ever faced. On the ballot a sales tax to shore up the police and firefighter pension fund. Most people agree there's a problem that needs a solution. But there is a big conflict between those who support a tax and those who think taxpayers are being asked to bailout Springfield government. ...

As far as shopping on-line and taxes, be aware [if not] that there have been strong pushes in the past, and w/ the economy & gov't's both hurting, this will come back:
Tax-Free Internet Shopping May Be Almost Over - Econwatch - CBS News Note that this article is from April 2009:

If a little-known but influential alliance of state politicians, large retailers, and tax collectors has its way, the days of tax-free Internet shopping may be nearly over. A bill expected to be introduced in Congress as early as Monday would rewrite the ground rules for mail order and Internet sales by eliminating what its supporters view as a "loophole" that, in many cases, allows Americans to shop over the Internet without paying sales taxes. ...

Sales Tax on the Internet - Free Legal Information - Nolo

Will Internet purchases remain free from sales-tax? We'll find out in coming years as Congress and state legislatures wrestle with this issue. Naturally, there is a great deal of opposition to the current approach, and state governments and brick-and-mortar retailers are seeking legislation to overturn the 1992 Supreme Court ruling. A look at the numbers explains why -- sales tax revenues currently amount to about $150 billion annually and make up approximately one-third of all state revenues. These taxes pay for everything from schools and police to roads, parks, and other state services. California alone estimates losses of over a billion dollars per year in sales tax revenues. ...

http://www.stlamerican.com/articles/...business03.txt

... One example is a loss of state sales tax revenue from purchases made on the internet rather than in local stores. A recent estimate from the University of Tennessee indicates that Missouri loses more than $200 millions in revenue annually due to not capturing sales tax from internet purchases. ... “When our State legislators return to Jefferson City in January to begin work on the FY 2011 budget, they must find solutions to our ongoing shortfalls and work to prevent cuts like those made today from continuing to deplete the State services Missourians rely on,” said Blouin.

“Closing these tax loopholes and updating our revenue structure are important ways to begin that critical process.”

So,,, for those of you with an interest in seeing internet purchases remaining the way they are - strongly suggest getting VERY active on this matter.

[MoNative34]

... One example is a loss of state sales tax revenue from purchases made on the internet rather than in local stores. A recent estimate from the University of Tennessee indicates that Missouri loses more than $200 millions in revenue annually due to not capturing sales tax from internet purchases. ... “When our State legislators return to Jefferson City in January to begin work on the FY 2011 budget, they must find solutions to our ongoing shortfalls and work to prevent cuts like those made today from continuing to deplete the State services Missourians rely on,” said Blouin.

“Closing these tax loopholes and updating our revenue structure are important ways to begin that critical process.”

How could they say that with a straight face? .....How bitter they are that there's money out there that they don't have their hands on.

[ozarksboy]

Originally Posted by MoNative34

How bitter they are that there's money out there that they don't have their hands on.

This sounds like a description of Rolla city fathers, too.

[mcol]

Yeah, I've always figured that the worse it gets for them
the more they'll work to figure out a way to get internet
tax money.