Voter Guide

Simple majority required:Ballot wording: Shall Big River Ambulance District impose a sales tax of an additional one-half (1/2) percent for the purpose of providing revenues for the operation of the Big River Ambulance District and the total property tax levy on properties in the Big River Ambulance District shall be reduced annually by an amount which reduces property tax revenues by an amount equal to fifty percent of the previous year’s revenue collected from this sales tax?Summary: The measure would allow the district to raise its half-cent sales tax, first collected in 2015, to 1 cent as now permitted by state law. If passed, about $900,000 in additional sales tax revenue would be generated annually. The proposition requires half of that amount to be used to offset a required reduction in the district's property tax rate. Officials say the increased revenue would help it meet increasing costs, improve service and decrease response times. Supporters say the measure would provide a more equitable way to share the costs of providing service while providing property tax relief. Opponents say the sales tax is regressive and the region's sales taxes are too high.