Business Loop 70 CID sales tax passes by one vote

Voters approved a new sales tax for the Business Loop 70 Community Improvement District Thursday night by one vote.

Seven of the fifteen registered voters returned their ballots, approving the half-cent sales tax at some stores 4-3. CID Executive Director Carrie Gartner said the tax will take effect April 1. Gartner said six ballots were not returned, and two ballots came back to the office unopened, and without a vote.

CID Board director Tom May said the group had a “big vision” to make the Business Loop a desirable place for people in Columbia to visit and shop.

“I look forward to seeing that vision come true, and really making the Business Loop some place that, as a community, we can be proud of, and feel good about,” May told ABC 17 News.

The election was originally to take place between the property owners on the Business Loop earlier this year. The Boone County Clerk revealed fifteen voters lived within the district, meaning they would get to decide the fate of the sales tax. Jen Henderson, a registered voter in the area, said she voted against the tax. She said the board could have been more forthcoming with its plans on what it would use the tax money for.

“At least we were able to be taxed with representation,” Henderson said. “Which I don’t think back in May, when the property owners tried to get this done without any voters, we would be taxed without representation. At least, with the tiny number of seven people, we were able to exercise our democratic right to vote.”

The district expects to collect more than $200,000 annually through the sales tax. The CID already anticipates about $50,000 in a property tax assessment approved earlier this year.

“It’s not a lot of funding,” May said. “And it can’t be the total answer to what we’re trying to do, because it’s not enough funding to really change a whole lot. What it does is it provides seed money to get other grants, provides matching funds to work with the city and things like that.”

Henderson questioned how the CID went about hosting the election. While the Boone County Clerk’s office identified the eligible voters, the CID took care of preparing and mailing the ballots to them. The CID used four county election judges to tally the votes, which required voters to sign the bottom of the ballot to compare with their registered signature.

Gartner said the CID will keep the ballots sealed for one year, then destroy them.

Despite concerns, Henderson said she hopes the community is more informed on how CID’s operate.

“Once they’re created, they have so much power,” Henderson said.