I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the tragic events of February 14th in Parkland Florida. As a Nixa Eagle, I can only imagine the pain, lose and anguish that the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Eagles feel.
Several people have reached out to me in the weeks following this despicable act, concerned about the safety of our children and our community. I want to promise them that the brave men and women of the Nixa Police Department are just as concerned. Our Police Department, along with its partners at the Christian County Sherriff's department and the Nixa Public Schools, continue to work tirelessly to do everything possible to make sure that a tragedy like this does not occur here.
Nixa was recently listed as one of the safest cities in Missouri, but we must keep vigilant to ensure that it continues to be. One of the key elements to this is our strong community. If you see something say something. We hear that message so frequently because it is so essential to our mutual safety. If you see someone who is struggling, or whose actions concern you, please contact one of our law enforcement organizations.
We, as a community, will continue to do all we can to protect those that mean the most to us. And from our Eagles to the theirs, please continue to pray for the families of Lakeland and the Eagles of Marjory Stoneman Douglas.
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Remember to vote April 3rd
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| What is a use tax? Click above to watch the short video. |
On April 3rd, 2018, Nixa voters will decide the following
ballot issue regarding a USE TAX
. This is the language you will see on the ballot:
Shall the City of Nixa, Missouri be authorized to impose a local use tax at the same rate as the total local sales tax rate provided that if the local sales tax rate is reduced or raised by voter approval, the local use tax rate shall also be reduced or raised by the same action? Yes or No
What is a use tax?
The local use tax is applied, in lieu of the local sales tax, on transactions conducted with out-of-state vendors, including catalog and direct market sales.
What types of items does the use tax apply to?
A use tax is applied to the same types of items as the sales tax. The use tax does not expand the list of transactions which incur a sales tax. The use tax applies to transactions which incur no sales tax, if the goods are purchased out-of-state and will be shipped to Missouri.
Purchasers will not pay both a sales tax and a use tax.
A purchaser will pay one or the other, depending on the type of purchase. The use tax rate would always be the same as the sales tax rate (currently 1.5%). The use tax would go up or down with the sales tax rate.
The State of Missouri estimates Nixa would collect an additional $95,000/year if the use tax is approved by voters.
$95,000 is equivalent to:
- Personnel expenses for 2 Police Officers
- Or new sidewalks for 7 city blocks
- Or asphalt street overlay for 1.08 miles of city roads
The use tax will not increase the sales tax.
If passed, the use tax means the city would begin to collect its 1.5% portion of the use tax (in lieu of the local sales tax) from some online retailers and other places where it is not currently enforced.
If the use tax is not passed, online stores located out-of-state won't collect any local tax.
However, passage of the use tax does not mean all out-of-state vendors would begin to collect the use tax in lieu of sales tax. Enforcement is determined by the federal and state governments.
Other cities have approved the use tax.
Springfield, Fremont Hills, Aurora, Willard, Mt. Vernon and over 100 other Missouri cities have already passed a use tax requiring out-of-state vendors, such as catalog sales and online stores, to collect a use tax at the same tax rate as their local sales tax.
What is the current Nixa sales tax?
When anyone buys something from a Nixa business, they pay 7.475% total sales tax on their purchase. This sales tax is divided as follows:
4.225% to the State of Missouri.
1.5% to Christian County.
.25% to County 911.
1.5% to the City of Nixa.
The city's portion is split so .5% goes to the Street fund, and 1.0% goes to the General fund, of which, the Police Department is the largest expense.
In 2017, Nixa's sales tax revenue grew 2.08%. That growth has slowed down each of the last 4 years. At the same time, operation costs including Police and Street departments grew by 4.68% from 2016 to 2017. Operating the Police Department currently costs more than the entire sales tax collected for the city.
The City of Nixa has not increased its portion of the sales tax since 1987. This issue would not increase the sales tax.
Nixa's Population Growth
Nixa's population continues to grow. This growth has resulted in higher costs necessary to provide services such as Police, streets, and sidewalks.
Amazon.com & Online Sales
Amazon.com volunteered in February 2017 to begin collecting Missouri use tax on purchases by Missouri residents. This means Nixa residents pay 4.225% to the state on purchases from Amazon. (The state has had a use tax since 1959.) The state does not provide these funds to the City of Nixa. Nixa may only collect 1.5% (equivalent to the current sales tax approved by voters) from orders shipped to Nixa addresses if Nixa voters pass the use tax.
If you buy less than $2000 worth of items from out-of-state vendors which do not have a nexus or 'direct connection' (such a store location, distribution center, back office, or sales representative) in Missouri, you will not have to pay use tax on those transactions. Missouri law already requires that you file a use tax return if you buy more than $2000 worth of items from out-of-state vendors. Only if an out-of-state business has a nexus in Missouri and they are going to ship the item to Missouri, and you did not pay sales tax on the purchase, would you then be charged the use tax by the vendor.
If you never buy anything from out-of-state vendors which have to be shipped to Missouri, you will never pay any use tax.
How would a use tax affect my business?
If you sell things through Amazon or other online stores, the use tax does NOT mean you would have to begin collecting use tax on those sales. You would still collect sales tax on the same types of transactions on which you currently collect sales tax. The use tax is only applied to purchases from out-of-state vendors if the item will be shipped to Missouri.
Businesses will not owe use tax on items which will be resold as a part of their normal business operations.
QUESTIONS? Nixa Public Information Officer, Drew Douglas: ddouglas@nixa.com 417-725-3785
PAID FOR BY:
CITY OF NIXA
Doug Colvin, Interim City Administrator
PO BOX 395
NIXA, MO 65714
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Uncontested City Council races, new polling place
There are two city council seats up for election on April 3rd.
The two seats up for election are: One seat in District I and one seat in District II.
Only one candidate filed to run for the District I seat,
Scott Perryman. After the
election, Mr. Perryman will fill the seat currently held by Ryan Keating.
Only one candidate filed to run for the District II seat, Matt Barker, who currently serves in that position after being appointed to the seat in 2017.
To see which district you live in, see our
Nixa voting district map.
The City of Nixa has 6 council representatives, two for each of the three districts. Council representatives serve alternating 3-year terms. This means each April, two council representatives are elected. The Mayor also serves 3-year terms. The Mayor was reelected in 2017, meaning the next mayoral election will be in April 2020.
Also, those who previously voted at the polling place located inside Espy Elementary are advised that their polling location has been changed to Nixa City Hall. To learn which polling place you should go to on election day,
visit the Christian County Clerk's website.
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The Baffler
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This perplexing puzzle will keep you bewildered, befuddled, and bemused.
Q: A man stands on one side of a river, his dog on the other. The man calls his dog, who immediately crosses the river without getting wet and without using a bridge or a boat. How did the dog do it?
The answer to The Baffler is at the bottom of the newsletter.
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City Administrator Search Update
Strategic Government Resources (SGR), the executive search firm hired by council to assist with the recruitment of our next city administrator, has collected 47 applications from around the nation. The interview and vetting process has begun. Once SGR narrows the field to 10-12 of the most qualified candidates, the search committee (Mayor and 3 Councilpersons) will select semi-finalists for initial interviews and select 4 to 6 finalists for the full council to interview.
The job description may be viewed here.
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NIXPO 2018
NIXPO is Nixa's Community and Business Expo to
showcase local businesses and offer networking opportunities. It's also kid friendly!
Be sure to stop by the City of Nixa booths! We'll also have a table ready to take applications for City of Nixa jobs at the career fair which will be happening at the same time, in the same place!
Where? Nixa High School
When? Saturday, March 17 9am-3pm
NIXPO is presented by Ozark Chevrolet. Other sponsors are Larson's Heating, Air and Plumbing, Sun Solar and The Castlewood Senior Living.
Louie from the Springfield Cardinals will be visiting from 10am to 1pm!
There will be parking shuttle service.
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Coffee ConneXion
The City of Nixa is hosting a Coffee ConneXion event in partnership with the Nixa Chamber of Commerce at City Hall on Friday March 23 from 7:30am to 9:00am. This is a come and go event for networking and a great opportunity to learn more about some of the things going on at Nixa City Hall! Coffee and refreshments are on us!
We especially want to invite our local businesses and commercial real estate agents to this event, as we will also be educating visitors about the services offered by the City of Nixa to support new and growing businesses!
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Seniors, come join us for The Update at the Nixa Senior Center
The Update is a great way to learn more about what's happening in Nixa and have your questions answered while enjoying lunch. Each month, we bring a different guest speaker. These events give those who may not have access to the city's electronic communications an opportunity to meet and interact with the city's leadership, voice their concerns, and stay informed!
For 2018, The Update is held on the last Wednesday of each month.
UPCOMING DATES:
February 28
March 28
April 25
Anyone can enjoy lunch at the Nixa Senior Center with a suggested donation of $6. Learn more at the
Nixa Senior Center website.
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The Xchange
The Nixa Parks Department has partnered with corporate consultant, speaker, and author
Lauren Schieffer to provide three learning opportunities for professional growth in 2018. We are calling this series The Xchange. The cost of booking an instructor of the high caliber of "The Colonel's Daughter" might be prohibitive for any one local business, so by opening up this opportunity to the public, we hope many area businesses and professionals may benefit from Lauren's training sessions.
Cost: $50 per person, per class. Register early to reserve your spot!
To register, call 417-725-5486 or register in person at The X Center (701 N. Taylor Way).
Class 1: Are you getting this? April 26, 2018. 9am - 11am.
The greatest hindrance to growth in any organization or in any individual career is poor communication - both up and down the ladder. Keeping staff motivated and achieving at full potential requires keeping effective and respectful lines of communication open at all times. This engaging, entertaining presentation details the most important avenues to sustaining staff peak performance and gaining customer loyalty in the 21st century.
Class 2: Before it comes to blows. September 13, 2018. 9am - 11am.
The most dynamic and successful organizations (and people!) learn how to resolve conflict before it starts - and create an atmosphere that fosters understanding and expression. These skills do not typically come naturally, but they can be learned. This engaging session will show you how to prevent, manage, and resolve conflict before it comes to blows!
Class 3: Leading out of drama. November 8, 2018. 9am - 11am.
Drama diverts time, energy and money away from team goals, strategic priorities, and critical activities. Easy to sense, harder to diagnose and prevent, drama is what happens when people struggle against themselves and each other, with or without awareness, to feel justified about their unhealthy behavior. Scientific research tells us that drama is predictable, observable, and reversible. The Leading out of Drama program harnesses the power of drama to create. This class teaches self-awareness about how people and teams participate in and contribute to drama. It offers options for making healthier choices and delivers strategies for inviting others out of drama and into compassionate interactions. This class helps leaders transform the interpersonal and group dynamics that sabotage morale, engagement, and productivity. Team members become more committed, creative, and focused on making meaningful contributions.
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Easter Egg Hunt
The Easter Bunny is coming to town! On Saturday, March 31st join us and our event sponsor, Mac Dental, for the annual Easter Egg Hunt. The Easter Bunny will be hopping around for pictures too!
The event begins at 10:00 am, with activities running until 11:30 am. Make sure you arrive early for your age division's hunt time! The Easter Egg Hunt is free and open to all.
Hunt times: 6 months - 2 years at 10:05 am, 3 - 5 years at 10:15 am, 6 - 8 years at 10:25 am, 9 - 12 years at 10:35 am.
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Health & Wellness Expo
Come join us for a day of nutrition, fitness education, and health awareness. The Health and Wellness Expo will be an opportunity for the community to engage in various health and wellness activities, seminars, demonstrations, and visit with vendors to learn about the numerous resources available to them within their community. Join us Saturday, April 7th from 9:00 am to noon. Entrance is FREE to the public! Booth spaces are available for vendors.
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Academy Spring Shopping Day
You're invited to Academy Sports + Outdoors for an exclusive Nixa Parks league shopping day! On Saturday, March 10th at the Springfield store present your flyer at check out to receive your discount. We hope to see you there! Get your flyer at nixaparks.com or visit The X Center.
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Art Smart Classes
Dates:
Intro to Art held Tuesdays: March 20th - April 24th
Studio Art held Thursdays: March 22nd - April 26th
Times:
Intro to Art (PK-2nd): 6:15 pm to 7:00 pm
Intro to Art (3rd-6th): 7:15 pm to 8:00 pm
Studio 2D: 6:15 pm to 7:00 pm
Studio 3D: 7:15 pm to 8:00 pm
Location: The X Center
Cost: Members $30, Nixa Residents $35, Non-Residents $40
Registration: Ends March 16th.
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Baseball / Softball / T-Ball
Registration for Baseball / Softball / T-Ball ends on April 4th. The six game season begins the week of May 8th. The program is open to boys and girls ages 3 years old to currently in 6th grade (Must be 3 years old by May 8th).
The fees for the program are as follows: Members $40, Residents $45, Non-Residents $53. *Late registration from April 5th - 8th, with a $10 additional late fee.
Game Days for Baseball / Softball / T-Ball
Pre-K T-Ball plays Thursday evenings.
Age 5-Kindergarten T-Ball plays Saturday mornings.
1st-2nd grade (boys) play Monday evenings.
1st-2nd grade (girls) play Tuesday evenings.
3rd-4th grade (boys and girls) play Tuesday evenings.
5th-6th grade boys play Monday evenings.
5th-6th grade girls play Thursday evenings.
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Open and Transparent Governance
Did you know that the agendas and minutes for council meetings are posted on our website? The agenda shows everything council plans to discuss at the upcoming meeting, and the minutes show what happened at previous meetings.
The public may also review information such as crime stats, construction permits, and other department activities. Just check out the supplemental reports in the city council meeting agendas issued prior to each council meeting. The monthly department reports appear at the bottom of the agenda for the second council meeting of each month.
See the Jan 2018 monthly reports from the February 26th council meeting here.
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Nixa ranked among Missouri's safest cities
The National Council for Homes Safety and Security has rated Nixa among the safest cities in Missouri. Nixa was ranked #8 on the list comparing 72 eligible Nixa cities. See the full ranking list here:
The
National Council for Home Safety and Security is a trade association comprised of home security professionals across the United States. The council advocates for safe communities and home safety with a strong focus on community involvement.
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Now Hiring!
The City of Nixa has job openings for various city departments!
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Get one of these Nixa travel tumblers for $15
Anyone can come by Nixa City Hall during business hours to purchase one of these stainless steel travel mugs for $15. They have a copper lining just like a Yeti mug to keep hot stuff hot longer, and cold stuff cold for longer. While you're here, you can also pick up a free refrigerator magnet with the important city contact numbers on it!
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Sign up for text alerts and e-notifications
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Did you know you can sign up for more timely alerts than just this monthly newsletter? Visit
https://www.nixa.com/how-do-i/sign-up-to-notifications
to select which types of city information you'd like to get e-mail notifications about. There are 10 categories, from parks or city hall calendar updates, to items open for bid, job postings, and emergency information.
Also, you can sign up to get text alerts by downloading the Swift 911 app on your phone! Select which categories of alerts you'd like to receive immediately on your phone. In emergencies, this allows the county get potentially life-saving information direct to your phone. You can also let law enforcement and first responders know ahead of time if you have special health concerns by completing the personal contact information in the app. This helps Christian County dispatch put your health information into the data first responders see when they come to your home to help during an emergency.
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Follow us on social media!
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Remember to "Like" and "Follow"
the City's Facebook page
. We are working hard to give you lots of updates on Facebook, as well as on Twitter and Nextdoor.
If you have any questions about what's happening at the city, please reach out to us either by email, phone,
Facebook,
Twitter, or
Nextdoor.
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City Contact Numbers:
City Hall: 725-3785
Police: 725-2510
911 Non-emergency and Animal Control: 582-1030
Utilities and report an outage: 725-3229
Public Works: 725-2353
Parks: 725-5486
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The Baffler - Answer
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The solution to your scalp scratchin'...
Q: A man stands on one side of a river, his dog on the other. The man calls his dog, who immediately crosses the river without getting wet and without using a bridge or a boat. How did the dog do it?
A: The river was frozen.
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