Springfield voters have approved a sales tax on marijuana.
Unofficial results show almost 70 percent of voters said yes to the proposal. Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller says turnout was low, with only 4.5% of voters going to the polls.
The sales tax will be 3% on recreational marijuana sales.
A historic building in Downtown Springfield has been purchased by the Ozarks Regional YMCA.
The building at 323 North Patton in Springfield is sometimes referred to as the “yellow bonnet” building.
The building will be the administrative offices for the YMCA’s branches in Buffalo, Cassville, Hollister, and Lebanon.
It will also house the center for youth development.
A man from Springfield is now facing more charges for a separate incident after being arrested for attempted child abduction.
48-year-old Danny Piper was arrested April 12 after investigators say he attempted to abduct a child from the Dream Center on West Atlantic earlier that day.
Authorities say that during an interrogation the following day, Piper admitted to touching two underage girls inappropriately at a local church in January of 2022.
He was later banned from the church following the incident.
Police investigated the admission, and have now charged him with three counts of child molestation.
He is also facing unofficial charges of attempted kidnapping and enticement of a child stemming from the incident at the Dream Center.
SPD is concerned there may have been other instances of child endangerment involving Piper. If you have any information and would like to come forward, contact police and investigators at (417) 864-1810.
Drag shows in Branson will now be allowed only in the downtown district after the city’s Board of Alderman handed down a ruling on Tuesday.
The board voted 4-2 to pass the resolution, limiting drag shows to the downtown district after public outrage in recent months.
The law also bans drag shows from occurring within 600 feet of a school, religious institution, or park.
Event planners conducting drag shows must also secure a special permit, and businesses must cover their windows to prevent people outside from viewing the performances.
Branson Mayor Larry Milton says that the ordinance is not a ban of drag shows, but rather protects children against viewing these types of shows.
Two rounds of thunderstorms are expected in the Ozarks Wednesday, with severe weather likely.
Much of southwest Missouri is under a level three “enhanced risk” for severe thunderstorms.
The first round of storms, moving from west to east in the morning hours, poses a large hail and damaging wind threat across the area.
Late afternoon and evening storms will affect areas primarily along and south of I-44. This round could be the most severe, with hail up to the size of ping pong balls, damaging wind gusts up to 70 miles per hour, and tornadoes.
Remain weather aware and have multiple ways to receive warnings.
We’ll have all the watches and warnings, along with damage reports as they come in to the National Weather Service on 93-3 and A-M 560 KWTO.
Voters went to the polls yesterday to vote on a handful of ballot issues.
The most prominent issue in Springfield and other communities around the Ozarks was taxing recreational marijuana.
Springfield voters passed the three percent tax with 70-percent of the vote.
Mayor Ken McClure said, in a press release, he is pleased with the election results.
Other communities passing three-percent taxes on recreational marijuana were Branson, Rockaway Beach, Forsyth, Hollister, Buffalo, Taney, and Dallas County.
There were a few other issues on the ballot in some communities.
Tax levies for fire protection and schools went down to defeat.
Voters said no to tax levy increases in Central Polk County, Hazelgreen and Lake Ozark for their fire protection districts.
Richland and Ava school districts saw their tax levy increases defeated.
Voters did approve a transportation tax in Seymour, a property tax to support the Branson-Hollister library, and a use tax in Cedar County.
From the City of Springfield news release:
“City of Springfield officials are grateful for the successful passage of a ballot measure to add a 3% sales tax on the retail sale of adult use marijuana, also known as recreational marijuana.
The tax is estimated to generate about $1.8 million per year.
Those voting affirmative numbered 70% with only four precincts remaining at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Proceeds from the tax will be used for public safety, mental health services, housing and substance abuse services.
City Manager Jason Gage said he expects that City Council will budget certain dollars for each (or all) categories they wish to address each budget year, depending on the programming.
“They could spend all funds in one program, divide them evenly or take a more customized approach.
If they should focus on long-term programming using the funds, then it is possible they will prepare a longer-term funding plan similar to our capital improvement program,” he said.
Mayor Ken McClure is pleased with today’s result, saying the funds will be put to good use, addressing critical issues in the community.
“We are very grateful for the support of the community with this passage,” he said.
“Community health, public safety, and the housing shortage are important issues. I am pleased we will have additional funds for these purposes.”
Retail sales of recreational marijuana are already taxed by the state of Missouri at a rate of 6%.
The sales tax rate in the city limits of Springfield is 8.1% for all retail goods, which includes the City’s sales tax rate of 2.125%.
The Springfield Fire Department is celebrating the grand-opening of its newest firehouse.
Firehouse 13 was opened today along Historic Route 66 in Springfield that officials believe will cut down on response times in that area.
The next station to be completed will be Fire Station 7, which is located on East Sunshine.
They expect the project to be completed by the end of this year.
The opening of the firehouse kicks off the beginning of the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival.
Large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes are all possible in the Ozarks on Wednesday.
The National Weather Service says two rounds of storms are expected, with the first round in the morning and the second Wednesday evening.
The tornado threat will mainly be with the evening storms.
We will have all the watches and warnings and any damage reports live on 93.3 and 560 AM KWTO.
The Springfield City Council is considering a measure that would put millions of dollars in updates into several sports complexes in Springfield.
At a council meeting Monday, members heard a proposal for using $13.5 million on improvements for Cooper Park and Killian Softball Complex.
The money would come from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
The total cost of the project is an estimated $27.5 million, and would include new turf, bleachers, new concessions and restroom facilities, renovated parking lots and other improvements.
Much of the current facility at Cooper is the same as when the complex opened in the 80s.
If the full $27.5 million is approved, the funding would come from the following locations:
The council will hand down an official decision at its next meeting, August 21.
There is only one issue on the ballot today in Greene County and it is only for Springfield residents.
Voters in Springfield will be asked whether the city should impose an additional three percent sales tax on the retail sale of recreational marijuana.
Mayor Ken McClure says the tax would generate an estimated 1.8 million dollars for the city.
The money from the tax would be used for public safety, mental health services, housing, and substance abuse services.
Springfield is the largest Missouri city without a three percent tax on recreational marijuana.