Many Poplar Bluff council candidates support use tax, but fear voters won’t

City spending has driven much of the conversation by candidates for Poplar Bluff City Council, and their stands on a proposed use tax are no different.

Voters will choose Tuesday from eight candidates for two at-large city council seats. Each seat carries a three-year term.

A ninth candidate is listed on the ballot, but Chester Pumphrey has said he is not physically well enough for the position.

Ward 5 representative Robert Smith is also on the ballot, running unopposed for another term in that position.

Many of the eight remaining candidates for the at-large seats say they believe Poplar Bluff needs a use tax that would collect money for the city on certain internet purchases. But some say getting public support now may be difficult because of recent spending decisions of the council.

This is the third article concerning candidate viewpoints.

At-large candidates include incumbent Steve Davis, currently serving as mayor pro tem, and in ballot order: Robert Duckett; Logan Gilham; Jim Chrisman; Peter Tinsley; Christine Taylor; Brent Eason and Robert E. Durbin. Incumbent Ron Black did not file for re-election.

The use tax would charge the city’s current sales tax, 2.25%, on online purchases made from out-of-state firms. It would mean paying the same tax on a pair of jeans purchased online, as would be paid at a brick and mortar Poplar Bluff store.

City officials have said this would add several hundred thousand dollars to the general revenue fund each year. This fund pays for police, fire, street department and other city operations.

Officials have also warned the 2020 budget was in the red before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted many local businesses.

Prior to the health crisis, they said future cuts to city personnel and services are possible if the use tax does not pass.

The city has to find ways to address the current financial situation, said Duckett, explaining he would support the use tax to prevent people from losing their jobs.

But Duckett isn’t sure voters will support the measure during this election.

“The use tax has been presented to the city citizens multiple times now, and they have all been voted down,” said Duckett, a funeral home director assistant for Fitch-Hillis Funeral Home. “Unfortunately, it’s been closely tied to the Shelby Road property purchase. I think that city of Poplar Bluff could present a cure for cancer and it still be voted down.

“If (the use tax) is to get passed, it needs to be distanced enough that people will not associate the two.”

It is up to the voters to make this decision, according to Davis, who is completing his first term on the city council.

“This tax, which applies to internet and out-of-state sales, would help even the playing field for our local merchants. It would also help local government with its operating costs, such as salaries and benefits,” said Davis. “It is not true that money in the capital fund, which is more plentiful since the (Black River Coliseum) has been paid off, can be used for salaries and benefits; this is why the use tax is important.

“More revenue will enable the city to hire more police officers, firefighters, and keep up with street repairs and maintenance.”

Capital fund money will pay for a new police department, as well as plans for a new city hall in the downtown area. Capital fund money is a separate account from general fund money that pays for many city operating expenses.

Gilham believes the city should look for avenues other than a tax to resolve the budget issues.

“There could be different routes and not have to do this tax, because all it’s going to do is make people more angry,” said Gilham, who works as a service technician for ATMs. “When people hear internet tax, people can misinterpret that and become even more outraged by it.

“I really think they need to think long and hard on that tax. There are better ways to (get) money other than just taxing more.”

Chrisman supports the use tax, and said he will personally vote for it.

It levels the playing field for local merchants in regards to internet purchases and helps the city’s budget, he said.

“I’m hopeful that the council will change over to where some better decisions on spending money will come with the new council,” said Chrisman, who is retired from work in computer processing.

The use tax is badly needed, agrees Tinsley, who fears voters still may not approve it following the controversy over the Shelby Road land purchase for a new police department.

“I’m sorry, they’ve blown it with this land purchase,” said Tinsley, who is semi retired and sells promotional products part time. “I thought (they should) back away this election and let us run a campaign and then (run it) in November, more people would be voting … and we can educate people.

“Poplar Bluff needs it, but Poplar Bluff needs to show the people we are going to use the money wisely.”

Taylor agrees it may be difficult to get widespread approval for the use tax, also citing the controversy over the Shelby Road purchase.

“I will admit I was a fence rider, but I do see the full picture and how great and needed this is for our city’s police, fire and street departments, but we need to be sure we have a council seated that will stick to what this is proposed to be used for,” she said.

Taylor said that she has spoken with some of the departments in the city, and heard first hand what their needs are.

The street department currently has 16 men that do work which includes grass cutting, asphalt and concrete work, maintaining gravel and brick streets and whatever other project may be thrown their way, she said. In the summer months that number of 16 is cut to nine available for street and road work due to the others needed for bush hogging and mowing.

“I was told they could use three more workers to continue supplying our community needs,” Taylor said, adding, “Motorpool has four mechanics and could use one more since they are continually overloaded.”

The fire department has lost five positions since 1998 and this includes a much needed assistant fire chief, said Taylor, who’s husband is a city firefighter.

“We have three stations, each station, when fully staffed has three men on. That’s a total of nine men per shift. This could potentially put lives and property at risk,” she said. “This tax, if passed, could supply the fire department with a few more men and an assistant fire chief, and in the coming years, as Poplar Bluff grows, enough men to service another station.”

Taylor said she has been told the police department could use approximately five more patrol officers.

Eason also supports the use tax, and encourages voters to educate themselves about the matter.

“The city budget is already constrained quite a bit,” said Eason, who owns Eason’s Glass.

By approving the use tax, it would mean more local money staying in the local community rather going to other places, he said.

Durbin feels like enough wasn’t done to tell voters about the use tax proposal.

“The public at large sees the city government being irresponsible with the tax money they’re already getting and now asking for more to settle problems that they’re creating, then no way the citizens of Poplar Bluff are going to vote for a use tax, the way it’s going right now,” said Durbin, who is a school bus driver with a Doniphan district. “If you are sure the council is going to change, then vote for the use tax. Otherwise, wait for the council to change and vote for it then.”