Local Use Tax - For Public Safety

On November 8, Ozark citizens will have the opportunity to vote for a new city ordinance, a local use tax for public safety purposes at the same rate as the total local sales tax rate. The revenue will be used to meet facility needs, equipment, compensation and training.

Ballot Language:

Shall the City of Ozark, Missouri, impose a local use tax for public safety purposes at the same rate as the total local sales tax rate, currently 2.375 %, provided that if the local sales tax rate is reduced or raised by voter approval, the local use tax rate shall also be reduced or raised by the same action?

Click picture above to watch Use Tax video

Local Use Tax for Public Safety Fast Facts:

Revenue from this Local Use Tax would be used to assist in the operation of the Ozark Police Department, including but not limited to; meeting facility needs, services, equipment, compensation and training.
Use tax applies to purchases made outside the taxing jurisdiction but used within the state. Use tax is a complementary or compensating tax to the sales tax and does not apply if the sales tax was charged.
The Local Use Tax for public safety will only be used to help fund the operation of the Police Department and come not be comingles with non-public safety city funds.

Staffing
Facility
Equipment
Interactions

Although our beautiful city encourages new officers to come to the area, not being able to provide certain amenities and necessities is dampening our ability to attract new talent to the Ozark Police Department. As the city population increases, so must our police presence to maintain the same level of policing we have all become accustomed to. The Ozark Police Department has authorized 37 sworn police officers and 6 non-sworn police officers. Ozark has seen a 17.7% population increase over the past decade, with estimates showing a 3.2% population increase this year alone. We need to increase our force by approximately 20% to meet state and federal recommendations. Identifying the appropriate number of police officers is a task that requires multiple viewpoints, an incredible amount of data, and an understanding of the public safety priorities of community stakeholders (citizens). This can be completed by analyzing the population, calls for service, or organizational workload.

With these studies in mind, Ozark Police Command Staff recommends that the appropriate staffing level for the Ozark Police Department in 2022 is 45 police officers. Currently, with our 37 officers, we have approximately 1.9 officers for every 1,000 citizens. The average in the Midwest is 2.2 officers per 1,000 citizens. Nationally it is 2.3 officers per 1,000 citizens. With 45 police officers, we would still be below the average by having 2.1 officers per 1,000 citizens; however, we would be much closer to our goals of being more involved with the community and reducing crime.

To retain talent, we must focus on valuing police officers' contributions to our city through competitive pay, benefits, work environment, and equipment. When we hire a new Ozark Police Officer, it costs us approximately $15,000 to hire, equip, and train a new staff member. We must do everything possible to ensure we are retaining the staff we are able to hire. The market (locally, regionally and nationally) for police officers is more competitive than ever due to the shortage of qualified individuals to serve as police officers. We must value our staff, improve our facility, and provide adequate and up to date

FAQs

How does the City of Ozark generate money?

It’s from taxes. We have no other way to generate taxes. Living in Ozark and not paying taxes to support local services by shopping on line is like not supporting your local businesses or your community. On-line shopping is the way most local citizens shop and by doing so without collecting local taxes for those purchases.

Will there be wasted space? Will you overbuild the facility? What is your plan?

If you look at the information above you will see the proposed exterior elevation and inside floor layout for the proposed Public Safety facility. I don’t believe you will find any areas of wasted space. We were very careful to not over build at this time but to design what was needed to move us into the future with the ability to expand only if and when we need to as no doubt Ozark will continue to grow just as the need for public safety services. We focused diligently on designing a public safety facility that would achieve maximum efficiency thus enabling us to provide the best service to the citizens of Ozark. I feel confident in saying we do not currently have buildings that are “over built” but certainly have buildings that are over utilized and reaching their maximum capacity. Even in the case of The OC we have found a use for each and every area within that facility.

Square Footage of Current PD - 4,500 sqft.

Square Footage of Proposed PD – 23,000

Population of Ozark 2000 - 9665

In 2012, press reports described Ozark as the fastest-growing city in Missouri. 2010 census.

Population of Ozark 2020 – 21,976

Isn't the monthly tax revenues collected by Ozark in 2022 more then the 2021 amounts? Actually aren't the amounts record amounts? The most ever collected?

Through the City’s focus on infrastructure improvements and economic development we have been able to recognize increased sales tax revenue. These additional revenues are being generated mainly from the Highway 65 corridor businesses which primarily serve out of state traveler’s. The new Capital Improvements proposed for the Police Department including Facility, Officer, Fleet would require an additional $1.5-$1.75M annually which is far more than the moderate increase to the 1cent general sales meaning we could not implement the Public Safety Improvement Plan outlined on our website.

How much additional revenue will the Local Use Tax for Public Safety generate?

Unfortunately, there is no way to know for sure. The Department of Revenue doesn’t keep track at this point. However, Nixa (which is similar in size) generated approximately $500,000 in 2018 the first year they had a Use Tax.

If approved by voters, when will the Local Use Tax for Public Safety go in to effect?

The Local Use Tax will be effective on the first day of the second calendar quarter following the Department of Revenue Notification. Based on that it would be effective or start collecting on April 1, 2023.

Do other cities in Missouri have a Local Use Tax ?

Yes, a number of our neighboring cities such as; Springfield, Nixa, Willard, West Plains and many more. There are more than 230 cities across Missouri that have established a Use Tax.

Why is a Local Use Tax for Public Safety so important for The City of Ozark?

"This month I would like to take the opportunity to talk about the growing needs of our Ozark Police Department. Did you know that the Ozark Police Department’s female officers, do not have their own locker room or changing area? The Ozark Police Department has outgrown its facility. As the city population increases, so must our police presence to maintain the same level of policing we have all become accustomed to. The City of Ozark has seen a 17.7% population increase over the past decade, with estimates showing a 3.2% population increase this year alone. To meet state and national recommendations for our current population, we must hire ten or more officers. Our current police facility does not provide adequate accommodations for the 35 officers we now employ." - Mayor Bradley A. Jackson, Ozark's Newsletter September Issue

The Mayor touches on just one of the many growing needs our Police Department faces, a new facility. A new facility would give our award-winning police department the much-needed space to do more in-house training and community outreach.

When do I vote on this question?