Richmond council schedules two local use-tax questions for future ballot

The Richmond City Council on Aug. 24 moved to hold two ordinances that would ask voters whether the city should impose or continue a local use tax on certain out‑of‑state purchases and vehicle titles. Mayor Mike Wright convened the special meeting to meet an Aug. 25 ballot‑filing deadline.

Bill 15‑23 would call an election on imposing a local use tax at the same rate as local sales taxes for purchases made outside Missouri, including motor vehicles, trailers, boats and outboard motors purchased from non‑Missouri dealers. Bill 15‑24 would call an election to continue collection of local sales tax on the titling of motor vehicles, trailers, boats and outboard motors purchased from a non‑Missouri dealer. The council indicated it would hold both measures and place them on the 2016 ballot for voter consideration.

Council members said the meeting was timed to meet the statutory filing deadline; no final wording or vote totals appear in the minutes other than the council’s direction to hold the ordinances for placement on next year’s ballot. The actions preserve the option to ask voters whether Richmond should collect a local use tax in these categories but do not finalize ballot language or outcomes until a future meeting.

Next steps: the council’s action preserves the city’s ability to submit the two proposed ordinances for the 2016 ballot; staff will need to return with final ordinance language, any required publication steps and certification for the election period.