Richmond Heights voters approved an online sales tax but rejected a tax on out-of-state vehicle purchases during Tuesday’s (Nov. 3) elections, according to unofficial results posted by the St. Louis County Board of Election Commissioners.
Proposition U — narrowly passed on a 265-259 (51 – 49 percent) vote — asked voters to approve a local ‘use’ tax on out of state purchases over the amount of $2,000 per year.
“This is not double taxation: sales tax is for retail purchases in the state of Missouri; use tax is for purchases from out of state vendors which are exempt from sales tax,” the city stated.
Proposition V — defeated on a 171-353 (33 — 67 percent) vote — asked voters if they would like the City of Richmond Heights to further discontinue collecting local sales tax on motor vehicles purchased outside of Missouri. Prior to 2012, the city collected this sales tax when residents licensed a motor vehicle purchased out of state; this is not a new tax.
Richmond Heights City Manager Amy Hamilton thanked voters on Twitter (@amyhami): “Use Tax helps level playing field for local in-state businesses #propu #propv thank you voters.” Also, “the results mean about $260,000 estimated in new revenue to help maintain city service levels.”
Prop V was to repeal a sales tax. Here is a quote from your site’s post on it:
“Proposition V asks voters to repeal the application of the local sales tax to the titling of motor vehicles, trailers, boats, and outboard motors that are purchased from a source other than a licensed Missouri dealer. ”
It failed so the new tax was created. So that is two new taxes. Hope Menard’s is enjoying their tax discount. I can’t wait for them to open across the street from those other two hardware stores.