MARIES COUNTY — Maries County voters will decide whether to continue the law enforcement sales tax that has supported the sheriff’s office over the last 10 years when polls open at 6 a.m. next Tuesday.

Proposition A, which voters at all nine precincts will consider, asks if the existing countywide sales tax of one-third of one-half cent should continue for the next 10 years. Its purpose is to support county law enforcement services via the Maries County Sheriff’s Office.

“It is one-third of one-half of a cent,” Sheriff Mark Morgan said about the tax. “This is not a cost that most will recognize as a savings if not renewed. The average consumer would not notice it even on even a large purchase and certainly wouldn’t notice it at all on most daily purchases in the county. However, the cumulative impact of this tax greatly benefits the county and is something we depend on for our budget in dispatch as well as funding all around for our deputies.”

If renewed, the tax would not increase sales taxes because it is a continuation of a current tax. In addition to sheriff’s office operations, the tax revenue also funds emergency dispatching for local police, fire, medical and other emergency services.

When the tax was last on the ballot in April 2015, it passed with 693 votes to 265 votes against it, or about 72.3 percent approval.

Last year, the Proposition A sales tax brought $126,382.79, an average of about $10,531 per month, to the sheriff’s office. So far this year, the tax has brought the sheriff’s office $31,236.02, an average of about $10,412 per month. The estimated expenditure for the Citizen Safety fund in this year’s budget is $1,014,391.

Morgan said if the tax failed to pass, it would impact his office’s ability to respond to any situation, including calls about crimes, medical emergencies, crashes, natural disasters or even patrolling local fairs. It also helps with retaining staff.

“We routinely operate with minimal staffing so it is critically important to me to recruit and retain the best staff we can,” he said. “When looking at what other nearby agencies pay, we face challenges. The proceeds we receive from this help us immensely to be able to pay our staff a livable and fair wage as well as allowing us to operate and serve Maries County.”

The revenue from the tax also helps the office stay up to date with general operational costs.

“As with everything else the cost to train and operate your local sheriff’s office is going up,” Morgan said. “In order for us to stay current with all the new and upcoming training requirements requires a lot of resources put into training and developing our staff. I put a huge emphasis on training and investment in our staff. A renewal of the tax is going to allow your local sheriff’s office to continue progressing toward the future.”

The Maries County Commission has also shared its support for the tax’s continuation as the county has been going through a period of financial hardship.

“We hope that the county will support that,” Presiding Commissioner Victor Stratman said. “It’s not a new tax; it’s an extension of one that’s been in effect for 10 years or more.”

Residents of Public Water Supply District No. 1 of Maries County, which covers the southeast corner of the county around Vichy and the areas north and south of Vienna, will face the question of whether to approve a waterworks revenue bond worth $10 million for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, extending and improving its waterworks system. The principal cost and interest on the revenue bonds would be payable solely from the revenues derived by the district from the operation of its system.

According to information supplied by the district, it acquired about 1 acre of land near the Osage County line with the intent of drilling a well there. Over the last several years, Quaker Windows & Doors has expanded its operations in that part of the county, and the district sees a need for more water to supply its customers.

If voters approve the bond, then the water district plans to drill a well on its property and construct a tower and wellhouse to serve as a backup water source for customers when maintenance occurs at the other well site. The district anticipates little to no impact on the water rates it currently charges.

The engineering firm Bartlett & West has conducted an engineering study throughout the district. In addition to developing the new well, the bond could potentially fund smaller projects to improve connections throughout the district.

Vienna-area voters will not select any local board members. No Vienna Board of Aldermen seats are open this year. The Maries R-1 Board of Education has two seats up this year, but the only two candidates to file for the election were incumbents Dave Long and Jacob Hallahan.

The Maries-Osage Ambulance District Board has two open seats sought by only two candidates. Incumbent Laura Miller will retain her seat representing Sub-District #1. Greg Stratman was the sole candidate to file for the Sub-District #4 seat currently held by Laura Stratman.

County Clerk Rhonda Rodgers predicted voter turnout of 6 percent.