Use tax on ballot for Forsyth voters

One of the biggest issues in the upcoming election is the proposed Use Tax for the City of Forsyth. A Use Tax is a conditional sales tax that is charged on goods and/or services when one doesn't pay sales tax.

The proposed Use Tax would allow the City of Forsyth to collect 2.25% on purchases made online from out-of-state vendors.

"This is solely for online shopping," explained Forsyth Mayor Missi Hesketh. "It is equivalent to our city sales tax and would, just like that tax, never go up or down without the vote of the people. The State of Missouri collects their tax from online orders from out-of-state vendors, too, which enables them to continue providing services like Highway Patrol and MoDOT. The City of Forsyth would use this revenue to offset where we currently lose sales tax revenue to folks who either do not shop local and instead support stores in Branson, Hollister, or beyond, and thereby their city's infrastructure, or they shop online.

If passed, the Use Tax revenue would go into the City of Forsyth's General Fund.

"There are so many needs it could be used for," Hesketh noted. "Not the least of which would be raising police salaries so that we could be more competitive and get the department fully staffed, as well as continuing the upgrades started in all departments. The Use Tax also attempts to level the playing field for our brick-and-mortar stores."

Mayor Hesketh continued, "Consumer habits have changed so much and we can so easily bow to the convenience of online shopping without giving consideration to our small businesses who struggle to keep their doors open, struggle to keep employees on, when we know full and well that small businesses are at the heart of the community. Small businesses are the sponsors for Little League, theater, band trips. We are all so interconnected and sometimes forget that."

A number of informational meetings have been held, where elected officials and city staff explained to Forsyth residents the benefits of voting Yes for the Use Tax and answered any questions that were presented.