VIENNA — County sales tax revenue from March to April dropped by 38 percent, and the use tax dropped by 7 percent, according to the sales tax report handed to the county commissioners at their April 9 meeting.  The sales tax revenue dropped by 24 percent from April 2025 and 36 percent for the use tax.

The revenue was collected in the month prior and received in the month listed.

The sales tax report lists the following for March and April. Each sales tax is 0.5 percent except for the 1 percent use tax.

• Old Sales Tax 300 (38.45 percent decrease)

o March: $40,939.89

o April: $25,199.05

o 24.40 percent decrease from April 2025

• 1/3 Sales Tax 310 (38.61 percent decrease)

o March: $40,897.51

o April: 25,106.99

o 24.46 percent decrease from April 2025

• New Sales Tax 311 (38.61 percent decrease)

o March: $40,897.48

o April: $25,107.01

o 24.46 percent decrease from April 2025

• Law Enforcement Sales Tax 360 (38.61 percent decrease)

o March: $13,577.99

o April: $8,335.61

o 24.46 percent decrease from April 2025

• Use Tax 501 (7.31 percent decrease)

o March: $27,324.93

o April: $25,327.53

o 36.38 percent decrease from April 2025

Osage County also saw a 17.63 percent drop in overall sales tax revenue from February to March and a 14.38 percent drop from March 2025.

“I’ve never seen a drop like that,” said Patrick Kleffner, the western district commissioner.

Presiding Commissioner Vic Stratman believes that rising costs, particularly of fuel, have cost the drop in sales tax revenue. Motor fuel, which has its own tax of 29.5 cents per gallon, is exempt from the sales tax.

“But people just got so much money. If they’re spending an extra 20 bucks a week on gas, they might cut back,” he said.

The county will have to pay $1,500 per year on election security software. Deputy Clerk Renee Kottwitz spoke with AQM Information Technology and was told that they needed this package because it was part of their Apollo election security services. Stratman signed the approval during the meeting.

The commissioners started reviewing the county’s employee manual, which was drafted in 2023 but never adopted. They considered requirements for benefits eligibility and rules regarding drug, marijuana and alcohol usage before work. The commissioners will have Sheriff Mark Morgan describe during their April 16 meeting the different kinds of drug tests that exist.

The commissioners also discussed a complaint regarding debris on County Road 448 and asked Justin Georgevitch to drive by and check on it. The photo sent to Stratman looked finished. So the commissioners believe that the person who submitted the complaint drove through when the issue the road was being graded.