History of the Economic Development Tax - by Tax Lobbyist Donna Clevenger

By Donna Clevenger BDN Staff Writer dclevenger@bransondailynews.com TANEY COUNTY — Taney County officials have been looking at transportation needs in Taney County for more than a year. Recently they decided to develop a county-wide transportation plan, which would serve the entire county, accommodating the need for private citizens who travel from distant parts of Taney County to allow their children to participate in sports and other recreational activities at facilities in Branson. Those same residents proposed a county-wide parks system with a variety of opportunities to benefit all Taney County residents. A group of citizens interested in preserving Taney County's historical documents artifacts and buildings, documenting cemeteries and historical sites were also seeking, at the same time, a consistent source of funding for these projects. Taney County's economic development needs are currently being addressed by the Industrial Development Authority that realize it needs a consistent source of funding for the long-term development projects that will ultimately provide solutions to affordable housing, the workforce shortage currently at issue as well as new business development and year-round economic stability provided by successful employers who have access to physical resources for entrepreneurship. These three groups of citizens together proposed a one-sixteenth cent sales tax to be divided between them. Shortly after this tax was proposed, the county commission and municipal officials began searching for an answer to the critical need to repair the existing Taneycomo Bridge after the Missouri Department of Transportation gave it a poor rating, advising the bridge would need to be closed for a year to rehabilitate it. MoDOT stated that their funds were limited, declaring it needed an answer within three to five years to prevent it being closed permanently, leaving the solution in the hands of county officials. The only logical solution was a new bridge. The sales tax proposal already being considered by the county commissioners was expanded to one-half cent to include revenue for a new bridge and possible renovation of the old, historically significant bridge and later to address the other transportation needs in the county. Click Here f -- http://www.bransonedge.com http://www.bransonmissouri.blogspot.com