Letter to the Editor of the Lincoln County Journal

I am opposed to the proposed Sheriff’s Office sales tax increase for several reasons:

1. This proposed increase does not contain a sunset clause meaning that it would go on forever without any termination date or require an election re-authorization.

2. The Sheriff’s Office has been financially mismanaged for each of the past three years. For example:

• It has overspent its revenues by a total of $6,905,370.

• This overspending includes transfers from the county’s general funds amounting to $1,890,813 over that same three year period.

• It appears it has not made any efforts to reduce expenses even in light of their continued overspending.

• It was the only Lincoln County government department that has had each year more expenses than they had in revenue.

3. If the sales tax increase proposal passes the county would move up from the 11th highest sales tax in Missouri to the 5th highest. And, the City of Troy would see its overall combined county and city sales tax rate increase from its current 34th ranking in Missouri to the 12th highest.

4. At a recent public presentation the Sheriff and/or his representatives could not answer the question as to how many kennels they intend to build. At that same meeting the Sheriff stated their animal control plan included only one dedicated full time deputy with untrained jail inmates operating and maintaining the kennel facility while being supervised by that single deputy. As a county taxpayer, my taxes are high enough already without having to purchase additional liability insurance to cover any mishaps at the kennel facility supervised by the Sheriff.

5. The Sheriff was noted as saying that they do not have any other options but the sales tax increase proposal and that there is no Plan B for the community.

For all of the above reasons, I urge my fellow Lincoln County tax paying citizens to turn out and vote on April 8 with a NO vote on the Safe Community sales tax increase proposal.

Respectfully,

Thomas E. Artru

Troy