The Osage Beach Fire Protection District (OBFPD) will ask voters to approve a 1/2 cent sales tax within the fire district, when they go to the polls on August 2nd, 2022.

The approval of this sales tax will provide funding for the operation of the Fire District and lower property taxes for Fire District residents.

Missouri Laws 321.552 – Sales tax authorized in certain counties, states that if a fire district is to add a sales tax as a source of funding and is already receiving funding through property tax, the fire district is required to return 50% of the generated sales tax revenue back to the taxpayer in the form of a reduction of their fire district property tax obligation.

For example, if the sales tax generates $3 million, OBFPD receives $1.5 million, and the taxpayers shall be credited the other $1.5 million in a reduction of their property tax the following year(s).

The cost of this sales tax is $1 per $200 of taxable purchases within the District.

The tax revenue will be used to fund current operations, operational enhancements, and a structured capital replacement plan. Planned operational enhancements include staffing of two small first-response, pick-up style, emergency medical units that are necessary to keep up with the increasing demand for services and fill an extremely urgent need for additional staff at emergency incidents on a daily basis. The capital replacement plan will include the short-term replacement of old front-line apparatus, personal protective equipment, concrete repair at Fire Station 2, and station upgrades as necessary. The structured capital replacement plan will ensure appropriate and regular replacement of front-line equipment without the need to ask taxpayers to fund future capital purchases.

Currently the district needs to immediately replace:

3 – Tankers (Water Haulers used to bring water into areas without fire hydrants) that are 30+ years old

2 – Brush Fire Trucks that are 20+ years old badly in need of being replaced.

Currently, property owners are the only source for funding for the Osage Beach Fire Protection District, through personal property taxes, at a rate of .7433 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.

The 1/2 cent sales tax would require that anyone who visits and makes a purchase also help fund Osage Beach Fire Protection District services.

For additional information, click the link below to view a short presentation.

Sales Tax proposal Neutral

If you have any more questions you may contact Chief Berardi at 573-348-1221 during office hours.

“Our Family, Protecting Your Family, Because We Care”