ORT Asking for Sales Tax Increase
By: Liz Hogan
Updated: May 2, 2012
Ozark Regional Transit is asking Washington County voters for a little extra funding this month.
ORT is hoping folks will approve a quarter percent sales tax increase, which would bring in more than $7-million in revenue.
The quarter percent tax increase equals out to about 25-cents for every $100 spent.
ORT Executive Director Phil Pumphrey says the extra funding would allow them to buy more buses, and add new routes and services in Washington County.
Pumphrey says ORT ridership continues to grow, 12 percent this year and 4,600 percent over the past decade.
To keep up with that growth, he says ORT needs more funding.
"The quarter of one percent sales tax will amount to about $38 per capita per person annually," he said.
According to Pumphrey, if voters approve a quarter percent sales tax increase, ORT could expand in several areas, including evening and weekend services and new buses.
"It's going to provide more para-transit for the services and people with disabilities to get around, later hours, so it really helps a lot of different areas of the community," he said.
However some voters feel this is not a good time to ask for more money.
"I'm really not in favor of any tax increase right now, due to the economy," said Susan Caplener. "Long term I think it's a good idea. I think that for not only the economy but the ecology of it, the environment, it would be great."
Others support the idea.
"With the congestion of traffic and gas prices we need to do something to help people and we fund a lot of different programs that don't need help," said Amanda Ingram.
Whether ORT receives help will be decided by Washington County voters May 22nd.
ORT is hoping folks will approve a quarter percent sales tax increase, which would bring in more than $7-million in revenue.
The quarter percent tax increase equals out to about 25-cents for every $100 spent.
ORT Executive Director Phil Pumphrey says the extra funding would allow them to buy more buses, and add new routes and services in Washington County.
Pumphrey says ORT ridership continues to grow, 12 percent this year and 4,600 percent over the past decade.
To keep up with that growth, he says ORT needs more funding.
"The quarter of one percent sales tax will amount to about $38 per capita per person annually," he said.
According to Pumphrey, if voters approve a quarter percent sales tax increase, ORT could expand in several areas, including evening and weekend services and new buses.
"It's going to provide more para-transit for the services and people with disabilities to get around, later hours, so it really helps a lot of different areas of the community," he said.
However some voters feel this is not a good time to ask for more money.
"I'm really not in favor of any tax increase right now, due to the economy," said Susan Caplener. "Long term I think it's a good idea. I think that for not only the economy but the ecology of it, the environment, it would be great."
Others support the idea.
"With the congestion of traffic and gas prices we need to do something to help people and we fund a lot of different programs that don't need help," said Amanda Ingram.
Whether ORT receives help will be decided by Washington County voters May 22nd.
