BUCKNER, Mo. — A proposal to increase the city of Buckner's sales tax by 1% is on the ballot for the third time in a year.
The first vote last November ended in a 145-145 tie, causing the initiative to fail.
The city put the measure back on the ballot in June, and it failed once more.
Those in favor of the proposal hope the third time's the charm.
"I think it’s needed," said Buckner resident Corey Butts. "It’s bad, the road’s in bad shape, and that’s not the only road. There’s a lot of potholes in town, there’s a lot of drainage problems."
There's signs of support for this proposal from several downtown business too.
Anita Jonas, who owns Clarity Gluten Free Shop, said she has a sign in her window hoping to help people understand where the money would go.
Jonas said she wouldn't mind the added tax, as most of her business isn't from those who live in town.
"Probably 90 to 95% of my customers are not from Buckner so that extra 1% here is not going to come out of local people's pockets," Jonas said.
"It’s not just Buckner residents that this tax is going to affect, it’s going to be everybody. So everybody kind of has a hand in making Buckner better," Butts said.
The city told 41 Action News it continues to see expenses grow and the tax would generate roughly $220,000 a year, which would go into the general fund. It would help the city's infrastructure, police department, and build up a rainy day fund.
The last time the city saw a tax increase was 1979.
Some Buckner residents are not on board with this proposal, wary of where that money will go.
"I just encourage everybody to just be willing to move forward. Let’s take this step together and let’s move Buckner in the direction that it needs to go to make our town better," Butts said.
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