The use tax on Tuesday’s ballot inspired many voters to take to the polls Tuesday.
“We need the use tax,” said voter Barbara Rexroat at the Ward 4 polling place at Temple Baptist Church.
The use tax, city manager Matt Winters has said, stands to generate an additional $800,000 in funds from taxing certain out-of-state internet sales. Those funds will be utilized by the city to hire three more firefighters and two dispatchers, plus much more, officials have promised.
At the Black River Coliseum, Ward 1 voter Connie Wieda said the use tax issue had been put on the ballot several times in the past and she felt it was a waste of money to continue voting on the subject.
Poplar Bluff Police Officer Molly Johns showed up at the Temple Baptist location to cast her ballot on the use tax as well, saying she felt it was an important issue to address.
Voters early Tuesday morning also expressed interest in city races, the county’s proposed tax on recreational marijuana and area school board elections.
“City council’s important. School board is important. You know we need to have people to replace the ones who are leaving on the school board. We need to have good candidates on there because there are a lot of issues coming up. I think the use tax is an important issue. I think there needs to be tax parity, so that’s why I voted for it,” said Wally Duncan, casting his ballot at Temple Baptist.
Wieda said residents pay enough taxes.
“When I am doing my Christmas shopping online, that is my business,” said Wieda.
James Barnhill said simply, “We need the tax on marijuana and we need the use tax.”
Former Butler County Assessor Marion Tibbs and his wife, Sharon, who is a retired school teacher, said they always make it to the polls.
“As a former office holder and teacher, we always vote, but the school board is very important to us,” said Marion Tibbs.
Poplar Bluff educators Brandon and Lindsay Moon said students and the school board were the driving factors that brought them to the polls.
“I think we’re in good hands, but it is an important issue,” said Brandon Moon.
Brock White said he thought everything on the ballot was important in its own way.
“I read the newspaper and got a good idea of who will be doing what and who will be standing for what,” said White. “Obviously, for our school boards, for the board to figure out who is the best leader, and how we improve our education system. And I think a lot of these candidates, a lot of which offer good ideas, others offer good sentiments, but I wanted people with good ideas and good initiative.”
He went on to say he felt there were a lot of important factors to consider on how residents can improve the city’s economy, while also understanding how tax funds will be used.
“With the case of medical marijuana and recreational marijuana being taxed, I feel like that is something we should have a good discussion on since it’s now becoming more legal,” said White. “There’s also the question of how much should we tax something that can honestly be used for medicinal purposes, that can be pretty underhanded and be a disadvantage to those who actually do need it.”
First-time voter and Poplar Bluff High School student Gavin Aud said he got most of his information about the candidates from his peers, but felt it was important to be an informed voter. He said the school board election brought him to the polls.
Nancy Sefers was manning the polls for Ward 3 at the Black River Coliseum and she said most voters she spoke with were concerned with the use tax.
“I think it is just a money grab by the city council,” said Ward 1 voter, Aaron Sentell.
Voter turn out was slow and sporadic, as of noon Ward 1 had only seen 41 voters, while Ward 3 reported having 28 ballots cast.
Voter Cal Nations summed up the sentiments of many when he said it is important to vote, “but we don’t know what the consequences of our votes are going to be in the months and years to come.”