On April 4 the City of Ozark will be asking its voters what we consider one of the most important questions in decades; whether or not to support a new 3/8 cent sales tax solely dedicated to transportation. This sales tax is 3/8 of one cent, will sunset in 5-years, is estimated to generate approximately $5.5 million dollars in new revenue, and if approved will be used to leverage over $7.5 million dollars of Federal/State transportation funds available to Ozark. Although only those residing in the city limits of Ozark can cast a vote on April 4, travelers shopping along the Highway-65 corridor will be helping to pay for these projects as well.
Whether you can cast a vote on April 4 or not, live or work in Ozark, drive on our streets and roads, walk on our sidewalks and trails, or just want to see safety, congestion, and safe routes to school improvements, you should learn more about this topic by visiting here.
Right now it will take Ozark over 17-years to catch up to an adequate local street maintenance condition. This means as we continue to grow we will most likely never catch up. The new sales tax will devote over 50% of the new revenue back into local streets accomplishing 17-years of work in 5-Years. This new tax will reduce congestion, improve major intersections, build new safe pedestrian sidewalks to our schools, and allow the City to cost share other important local transportation projects with the County and/or the Ozark Special Road District (OSRD)
What does this cost you or your family? If you or your household spends $100 a week on taxable goods in the City of Ozark, this new sales tax will cost you $.038 cents. That is $1.68 per week or $19.50 per year. The City of Ozark feels this is a good return on our investment, and hope the projects we are proposing allow you to feel the same.
