Montgomery County residents will vote on a pair of tax extension measures that have been placed in the April 8 general election.

They will vote on whether the Consolidated Road District #1 of Montgomery County should levy a renewal tax of 30 cents on the $100 assessed valuation for a period of four years (2026-2029) and the county should continue a countywide sales tax of one half of one percent for the purpose of the general operations that would expire in December.

Presiding Commissioner Ryan Poston said the sales tax was passed in the 2000s.

“It was passed to give health insurance to the county employees and raise the county wages because we kept losing people to McDonalds and other places around and we couldn’t hold employees,” he said.

A majority of the county’s revenue comes from sales taxes. They make up 17 percent of the county’s budget. They help fund all county offices, the sheriff’s department, the prosecuting attorney and the Montgomery County Joint Communications Center.

1st District Commissioner Dave Teeter said sales tax revenues were down in four of the last six months of 2024 and the first two months of this year.

“Our revenues are not headed in the right direction,” Teeter said.

Teeter said the county’s expenses have increased this year. The county has to pay $88,000 more for property, liability and vehicle insurance and $100 more a month for health insurance per employee. Also, the county gave a three percent cost of living raise to employees.

About 50 percent of the property tax revenue and 30 percent of the department budget go towards the Consolidated Road District tax.

Teeter said Montgomery County and the City of Montgomery get funds from the state everytime gasoline is purchased.

“The fuel tax that you pay, some of it goes to the state to use for MoDOT and other expenses, but the county and the city get a small percentage of that tax as well to help the roads that we maintain,” Teeter said.

The 1st District Commissioner said the county has struggled to afford and hire CDL drivers.

“Some of our equipment has to be driven by people who have CDL licenses,” Teeter said. “Obviously, CDL drivers are in a position where they can go to lots of places and they pay very well.”

Three years ago, county voters unanimously approved an extension of the Consolidated Road District tax. A total of 533 voters (78 percent) approved the extension, while 153 voters (22 percent) were against it.

The tax was previously passed in 1983. During that time, the added tax was raised from 20 cents to 30 cents. The county had to lower the 30-cent rate to meet state regulations.

The tax was also approved in 1975 and 1979. In 1971, the county court submitted the 20-cent added tax to the voters and it was approved.