Nixa voters reject tax for $39M in Parks, Police projects

City of Nixa voters yesterday rejected a proposed 1-cent general sales tax designed to fund nearly $40 million in proposed construction projects.

The unofficial results from Christian County show roughly 52% of voters opposed the tax.

The city sought the tax to fund a $25 million, 80,000-square-foot indoor sports complex for the Nixa Parks & Recreation Department and a $13 million, three-story new headquarters for the Police Department, according to past reporting. Another nearly $1 million in the proposal would have been added to the annual budget for 11 additional police officers.

Beyond Nixa, tax issues in the cities of Monett and Strafford were approved, while a proposal in Ozark was turned down.

The city of Monett got permission to impose a 2.25% use tax on out-of-state purchases online, but a similar ballot issue in Ozark was unsuccessful. Roughly 60% of voters were against a 2.375% use tax for online and out-of-state purchases, according to unofficial election results.

In Strafford, a three-quarter cent general fund sales tax to shore up law enforcement ranks in the community got the nod from voters.