At the regularly scheduled board meeting for the Osage Beach Fire Protection District which was held Tuesday, May 17, 2022; the 3 member board of directors approved to place a funding proposal on the August, 2022 special election ballot.

The funding proposed is a 1/2 cent sales tax that will be utilized for the operations of the fire district including, the purchase of equipment and facilities.

The official ballot language reads:

“Shall the Osage Beach Fire Protection District impose a sales tax of one-half of one percent for the purpose of providing revenues of operation of the Osage Beach Fire Protection District, including the purchase of equipment and facilities, and the total property tax levy on properties in the Osage Beach Fire Protection District shall be reduced annually by an amount which reduces property tax revenues by an amount equal to fifty percent of the previous year’s revenue collected from this sales tax?”

In summary the Osage Beach Fire Protection District will reduce resident’s property tax obligations by equal amounts of fifty percent of the revenue collected from the prior years revenue. This means that anyone who makes a purchase within the Osage Beach Fire Protection District will help fund emergency services provided by the fire district.

Currently, Osage Beach Fire Protection District is funded solely from property tax revenues collected. In 2020, the fire district learned that their property tax levy would be reduced from .77 cents per $100 to .74 per $100 resulting in approximately a $300,000 budget cut.

Please continue to read posted articles, and follow our Facebook page for informational posts and flyers regarding this ballot issue.

The special election will be held August 2, 2022.

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