Be an informed voter for April 4

The April 4 election is fast approaching.

In the coming weeks we’ll have more information on candidates for contested school board and city council races.

We hope these articles will help you make an informed decision when the time comes to cast your ballot.

We’ll also be running articles on two proposed tax measures, a use tax within the city of Poplar Bluff and a recreational marijuana tax for Butler County.

You also have the opportunity next week to hear from city officials on how the use tax could impact operations for Poplar Bluff.

Public meetings will be held at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Wheatley School, 830 Garfield St., and 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Temple Baptist Annex Building at 2708 Charlton Lane.

The use tax would place a tax of 2.25% on certain out-of-state internet purchases, taxing those at the same rate as goods purchased at brick and mortar businesses within the city limits.

If you are already paying a local sales tax, you will not pay a use tax. These are two separate taxes and only one can be applied at anytime to a purchase. Which one is applied depends on where the retailer is located.

City officials and supporters have shared they believe this helps create fair competition for local businesses, and that the revenues collected would help support critical services for the city.

A use tax is not unique to the city of Poplar Bluff. With the growing rise of internet purchasing, the state chose many years ago to have each city and county seek a use tax from the voters within the boundaries of that community rather than making a state-wide law.

Voters for Butler, Carter, Dunklin, Reynolds, Ripley and Wayne counties, for instance, have approved a use taxes, but the measure has not passed for the city of Poplar Bluff.

In other areas, the cities of Advance and Bloomfield has an approved use tax, but Stoddard County does not, according to the Missouri Department of Revenue.

It is a decision that is made by the voters in each community.

We hope that as you weigh this decision, you’ll take the opportunity to have your questions answered. If you aren’t able to attend one of next week’s meetings, city manager Matt Winters has also said he’s available to answer questions at 573-785-7474 or mwinters@pbcity.org.