MOSCOW MILLS – Two big measures on the ballot for Moscow Mills on April 8 could have a big impact if approved by voters.

One ballot measure doubles the term of the mayor from two to four years, if approved by voters.

If approved, the Mayor elected will serve the first four year-term.  Most mayors in Lincoln County serve a two-year term with the exception of Troy which has a four-year term.

“There are valid arguments for both sides. It will be up to the citizens to decide,” Meyer said.

Moscow Mills is also making a third attempt to pass a use tax.

According to the county clerk’s office, Moscow Mills’ voters defeated the effort to collect city sales tax on all out-of-state purchases, including online, 116-67 in April of 2022 and again 226-134 a few months later in August of that year.

“The use tax allows a city to impose the exact same amount of tax for out-of-state purchases that it would have collected as a local sales tax if the item had been bought from a local business,” Meyer said.

If approved by voters, the use tax or Proposition U would impact all online and catalog purchases and be used for funding maintenance repair, City street improvements, acquiring safety equipment, and the hiring of more police officers. If passed, the earliest it would take effect is November 2025.

Moscow Mills Alderman Board President Cody Quist says the use tax is not on top of sales tax, noting “it’s either one or the other. In addition, he says the City is doing all they can “to be wise stewards of the citiy’s finances” but ultimately “aren’t able to keep up with the needs of the city without the passage of the use tax.”

Adds Meyer, “cities are realizing the lost revenue to fund vital services and are working to close this digital divide.”

“The increase of online sales and the changing retail landscape has negatively affected the finances of the city,” Quist said. “Our expenses have drastically increased with inflation but our revenue has remained the same. This has put the city in a difficult financial situation because we have to try to maintain our city as it grows in population and expenses but with no increase in revenue. The use tax will make it so we can properly repair our roads, provide the necessary support to the police department and maintain our infrastructure.”

Beyond the two municipal ballot measures, Moscow Mills voters will also be casting ballots in a contested Lincoln County R-3 School Board Race, the $80 million school bond issue, and the half-cent sales tax increase funding the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department.

Moscow Mills also features a pair of contested aldermen races with Melvin Gilbert Jr. challenging Quist in Ward Two and John O’Malley challenging Amy Vollmer in Ward One.