Investing in Warrensburg

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the general sales tax?

The general sales tax is collected on retail sales made within Warrensburg and makes up approximately 40% of the City’s general fund. The general fund is used to pay for most city operations and services such as police, fire, public works, community development and municipal court.  

How much will this additional 1-cent sales tax cost me?

The proposed increase is 1-cent, or 1 penny, for every dollar. It will add an additional $1.00 for every $100 you spend within the city. The median income for Warrensburg households is $52,335. This additional 1-cent sales tax is estimated to cost a family of four $131 annually.

For every dollar of sales tax we collect in Warrensburg, about $0.67 comes from people outside of our community. This means Warrensburg residents will only pay for about 30%, or $1.5 million of the $4.7 million, in revenue generated by this sales tax.  

Does the general sales tax apply to all retail purchases?

The tax only applies to retail sales made within Warrensburg that are subject to taxation under the provision of Section 144.010 to 144.525 RSMo.

Is there already a ½- cent sales tax for capital improvements?

Yes. There is currently a ½-cent sales tax for capital improvements, and it expires in December 2025. The revenue generated from this dedicated sales tax pays the debt on the new facilities for the police department and public works street division along with renovations to city hall. The debt associated with these projects is not scheduled to be paid off until 2029. Additional revenue generated has been used to pay off the debt faster and purchase needed equipment such as police vehicles and fire command vehicles.

Warrensburg voters will have the opportunity to renew this CIP sales tax in 2025. If this sales tax is renewed, the remaining debt will be paid off, and the revenue generated will be used to build fire station #3 in the north quadrant of the city.

The projects proposed to be paid for by the 1-cent sales tax being considered in 2023 are primarily for street, sidewalk and stormwater projects. However, if the CIP sales tax is not renewed in 2025, revenue from the 1-cent sales tax would be used to finish paying the debt. 

How much will 1-cent generate?

It is estimated the sales tax will generate approximately $4,700,000 per year.

What will the revenue be used for?

Half of the revenue generated will be dedicated to public safety and the other half to street, sidewalk and stormwater projects. This will improve the economic vitality of the community by providing safer streets and neighborhoods as well as other critical improvements and upkeep of the City’s infrastructure.

Are there any specific street and stormwater projects planned if this 1-cent sales tax is passed?

For the first two years, the city will be aggressive in its annual street maintenance program while seeking opportunities for grants for total street reconstruction on several streets. The plan is to include stormwater and sidewalk issues in the street maintenance program to prevent future interruptions to residences and businesses for failed infrastructure. The annual investment in the street maintenance program and overall street network will increase from $450,000 to nearly $2,500,000.  Below are a few streets requiring complete reconstruction in the next few years:

•    Warren Street (Young Street to North Street)--$1,600,000 (2026)

•    Zoll Street (Grover Street to Clark Street)--$1,600,000 (2027)

•    Young Street (Warren Street to Holden Street)--$1,600,000 (2028)

As more information becomes available--such as street condition, economic development activity, or grant opportunities—some projects may move up or down on the priority list. City Council discusses the 5-year capital improvement plan every year during budget development so the community will be kept apprised of any changes. 

Is there an update on Maguire Street improvements?

The Maguire Street Gateway project is underway! We are currently in the process of selecting a Construction Manager At Risk for the designing, engineering, and construction of the Maguire Street corridor. Once a firm is selected in late March-April, there will be several opportunities for the community to engage in the rehabilitation of Maguire Street.

In April 2021, Warrensburg voters approved $17 million in general obligation bonds for street and bridge improvements understanding Maguire Street would be the priority for those funds. To supplement our local dollars, the City applied for approximately $25 million in funding through the 2021 and 2022 cycles of the Rebuilding America’s Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity grant program. The Maguire Street Gateway project received high marks; however, the program is very competitive, and our project was not selected. Although the project will be reduced in scale and scope, we are still very excited about the project and what it will mean for the economic vitality of this major corridor through the heart of our community.

Are there any other road projects underway?

Market Street:  The city has applied for a Community Development Block Grant for the total reconstruction of Market Street from Maynard Street to Warren Street. This project will include a total reconstruction of Market Street, significant stormwater improvements, upgrades to sanitary sewer, sidewalks, street lighting and trees.

Cooper Boulevard:  Cooper Boulevard will be extended to Hawthorne Boulevard. This extension will be paid using revenue from the  Hawthorne Transportation Development District (TDD) and will promote economic activity in the district. 

What is the ballot language?

Shall the City Council of the City of Warrensburg, Missouri be authorized to increase its general sales tax by one percent for the purpose of providing funds for the City, with one-half (1/2) of such taxes collected to be used for public safety in the City and one-half (1/2) of such taxes collected to be used for general purposes of the City including but not limited to additional staffing, increased compensation and benefits for employees, and infrastructure and capital improvements for the City?

What is the city’s current sales tax rate?

Warrensburg’s sales tax rate is 9.475% and 9.975% in the Hawthorne Transportation Development District (TDD) beginning April 1, 2023. The Hawthorne TDD will expire no later than 2025. The proposed 1-cent increase will raise the sales tax to 10.475%, ranking Warrensburg 168th among all taxing jurisdictions in the state. 

What happens if the proposed sales tax isn’t approved?

During the development of the 2022-2023 fiscal year budget, several positions in police, fire and public works were not filled. Additionally, $500,000 of reserves were budgeted for purchases of equipment and capital projects. The city has a healthy reserve fund, but it is not sustainable to continuously budget to spend reserves especially for any ongoing operating costs. 

If the additional sales tax is not approved, the city will have to make further cuts into the services provided and continue delaying equipment replacement and deferring infrastructure maintenance. Additionally, permanent reductions in police, fire, and public works personnel will have to be made. This will have significant impacts to our community such as a decreased  police presence to deter crime, difficulty maintaining an ISO 2 rating, and an inability to perform necessary street, sidewalk, and stormwater repairs. 

How do I vote?

You must be registered to vote. If you aren’t registered to vote, you can download the Voter Registration Application at http://www.jococourthouse.com/voter_info.html. The deadline to register to vote in this election is March 8, 2023. 

Election day is April 4, 2023.