TCED Tourism Tax Renewal, Branson West Ballot Issues Vote Tuesday

Voters in two areas of the Lakes Region will be deciding on ballot issues this Tuesday.

The renewal of the Tourism Tax within the Tourism Community Enhancement District that includes the City of Branson, the Village of Indian Point, and other portions of Stone and Taney Counties will be on the ballot. The sales tax is 1% and goes to the marketing of the region and administered buy the TCED Board. 

The Taney County Partnership is one of the groups advocating for the renewal of the tax which has been in place since 2006. Jonas Arjes, Director of the Partnership, during a recent interview on KRZK's "Ozarks Now" program, said that the tax is separate from the Branson Tourism Tax and that it is important to keep it in place to continue to promote the region amid other vacation destinations also going for the visitor dollars. 

The complete interview with Jonas Arjes can be seen on the Ozarks Now Facebook Page.

Meanwhile, three ballot issues await a decision for voters in Branson West. 

One is a bond issue that would finance improvements and expansion the city's sewage and waterworks facilities, another would impose a 3% sales tax on retail marijuana sales, similar to what has been passed in other area communities, and a third issue would impose a 1/2 of 1% on sales of tangible personal property and taxable services to help fund public safety improvements and expansion.

Absentee Voting wraps-up on Monday with polls open on Tuesday from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm. 

For voters in Taney County, all the City of Branson Precincts will be open but one will have a location change with voters who voted at Skyline Baptist Church in the past now voting at Freedom Encounter Theater on Falls Parkway. County Clerk Stephanie Spencer tells the Branson Tri-Lakes News that the voters in the Hollister 1 Precinct that are eligible to vote on the Tourism Tax Renewal can cast a ballot at the Branson First Presbyterian Church Location.

Meanwhile, Stone County Clerk Denise Dickens says in a Facebook Post that two voting locations will be open for Tuesday's Election. For Branson West Voters, that is Ignite Church and for voters eligible to vote on the Tourism Tax Renewal, the Indian Point Municipal Center.