Voters to decide tax questions on next week’s ballot

When they go to the polls on Tuesday, August 2, voters in Ash Grove and Republic will be asked to approve tax issues for their respective communities. Ash Grove voters will decide whether a new fire tax will be enacted while, Republic will ask for the approval of two parks taxes.

Ash Grove Fire Protection District seeks property tax levy
The Ash Grove Fire Protection District is requesting approval of a $1.65 million bond to pay for a new fire engine, a new fire station and other fire equipment. The tax will sunset in 20 years. The ballot language reads, “Shall the Ash Grove Fire Protection District issue its general obligation bonds in the amount of One Million Six Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($1,650,000) for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, renovating, improving, replacing, equipping and furnishing real property, fire stations, and related facilities, purchasing, replacing or repairing vehicles, emergency medical and rescue equipment, fire protection and firefighting apparatus and auxiliary equipment, and disposing of any replaced or outdated property…”

Why the AGFPD is seeking the levy
The bond would be paid off with funds from a $0.38 increase to the district’s operating levy.
The Commonwealth previously reported that at an open house held at the Ash Grove Fire Station on May 26, Anthony Moennig argued that the city needed to build a new fire station.
“We've gotten a lot of good use out of this station,” he said, “but we've reached a critical point with it that repairs that need to be made. At this point, it's just not economical; we are far better off to build new.”
Jackson Jones, a member of the AGFPD’s Board of Directors, also spoke at the open house. He said the new station is necessary because the wood-framed building that is the district’s current station has been damaged by repeated flooding.
“We've stewed on this for years,” he said. “Look at our station; it's leaking water right back here,” he said, pointing to where Chief Monnig was standing. “If you look, it's rotten.”
Jones added that the location was the problem. The city, he said, donated the land to the FPD to build the station on, but the location he said, collects a large amount of water every time there is a large rainfall.
“Every time it rains more than about two inches, in the station there is literally a river of water that runs through here,” he said.
During the open house, Moennig also said the AGFPD also needed a new fire engine for their frontline apparatus, as their current frontline apparatus is over 30 years old. If one was purchased, he said, they could continue to use their current fire engine as a reserve apparatus.
If the bond is approved, $1 million would go towards the new fire station, $400,000 would be used to purchase a new fire engine, and the remaining funds would go towards purchasing new firefighting equipment.
Cost to taxpayers
Although efforts were made to contact the Greene County Assessor’s Office for specifics regarding costs per taxpayer, messages were not returned to the Commonwealth.
Republic to seek renewals on sales tax
The city of Republic is seeking two sales tax renewals: The One-Quarter-Cent Local Parks Sales Tax and the One-Quarter-Cent Capital Improvement Sales Tax. Together, they generate over $1.8 million in revenue for Republic’s Parks and Recreation Department, or about 42.86-percent of its budget. Currently, the overall sales tax rate in Republic is 9.1-percent.

Republic to seek renewals on sales tax
The city of Republic is seeking two sales tax renewals: The One-Quarter-Cent Local Parks Sales Tax and the One-Quarter-Cent Capital Improvement Sales Tax. Together, they generate over $1.8 million in revenue for Republic’s Parks and Recreation Department, or about 42.86-percent of its budget. Currently, the overall sales tax rate in Republic is 9.1-percent.

Local Parks Sales Tax renewal
The One-Quarter-Cent Local Parks Sales Tax will appear on the ballot as Question One, and it reads, “Shall the City of Republic, Missouri, extend an existing sales tax of one-quarter of one percent for the purpose of providing funding of local parks, such tax to terminate automatically 25 years after the imposition thereof? The current one-quarter cent local sales tax is scheduled to expire on March 31, 2024. The City intends to use this sales tax to continue to fund general park operations, maintenance, personnel, programing and special events.”
According to information provided by the city, the tax was originally passed in 1990 and renewed in 2002. It generates $918,550 per year and funds 27.98-percent of the Parks and Recreation Department’s operating expenses.
Capital Improvement Sales Tax renewal
The One-Quarter-Cent Capital Improvement Sales Tax will appear on the ballot as Question Two, which reads, “Shall the City of Republic, Missouri, extend an existing sales tax of one-quarter of one percent for the purpose of providing funding for parks system’s capital improvement projects, such tax to terminate automatically 25 years after the imposition thereof? The current one-quarter cent local sales tax is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2024. The City intends to use this sales tax to fund capital improvement projects including, but not limited to, expansion of the Republic Aquatic Center, development of a large community park featuring a regional sports complex, and the development of a farmer’s market/community event space at J.R. Martin Park.”
According to information provided by the city, the tax was originally passed in 2003, and has paid for projects such as: The Republic Aquatic Center, the Amp at J.R. Martin Park, the Republic Veterans Memorial, and the acquisition of land for a new community park.
If renewed, the sales tax is expected to generate revenue that will fund the expansion of the aquatic center to include a 575-foot-long lazy river, two new water slides, a second zero-depth entry area for small children, additional part zones and cabanas, a possible second concession area, restrooms and a guard room.
The tax is also expected to pay for a new Athletic Sports Complex, to be built on a 136-acre tract of land that Republic acquired in September. The Commonwealth previously reported that the proposed complex would have eight to 12 softball/baseball fields and 12-16 soccer fields, among many other recreational facilities.
Finally, revenue from the sales tax is also expected to pay for a new buildout at J.R. Martin Park, which would include a Farmers Market Pavillion, a plaza for seating and special events, a space for food trucks and vendors, an outdoor classroom, unique play features and “iconic art elements.” A trail called “the Loop” would also be created; it would utilize portions of the existing trail in the park and be connected to the plaza.
More information on the sales tax renewals and how the funds would be utilized can be seen on Republic’s website at www.republicmo.com.