HERMANN — A contingent of Gasconade County government officials are scheduled to meet this morning with the county’s Enhanced-911 Board of Directors to hear that agency’s plan to seek in August voter approval of a use tax.

The County Commission, also, is considering asking voters to approve a use tax in August, but, unlike the 911 board, won’t commit to seeking a vote until the Missouri General Assembly decides what it’s going to do with legislation calling for a statewide use tax that would be shared with counties.

Expected to meet with the 911 directors at the dispatching center in Rosebud are Associate Commissioners Jerry Lairmore of Owensville and Jim Holland of Hermann, County Clerk Lesa Lietzow and County Treasurer Mike Feagan. Presiding Commissioner Larry Miskel of Hermann is unable to attend today’s gathering.

If state lawmakers again fail to adopt use tax legislation, the County Commission likely would order the tax issue on the August special election ballot. E-911 Executive Director Lisa Schlottach told the Gasconade County Republican that the 911 directors are committed to pursuing a vote on a use tax. The General Assembly will adjourn for the year in mid-May. The Commission has until late in May to place a use tax proposal on the special election ballot.

A use tax is a sales tax applied to purchases made over the Internet from out-of-state retailers. Missouri is one of only two states that do not levy a tax on such purchases.

Schlottach said a representative of the Missouri Department of Revenue will take part in the meeting to explain the particulars of a use tax.

If the County Commission seeks a vote, it will be the seventh time in about 12 years that county government has asked voters to approve the tax.

Representatives of the cities of Owensville and Hermann have been invited to attend this morning’s 911 board session, but as of Thursday neither of the cities had responded to the invitation, Schlottach said.

Lairmore has been the leading voice in county government for adoption of a use tax, especially in the past year as online purchases have increased tremendously as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Indeed, delivery vehicles not normally seen in remote areas of the county have become a common sight on county roads during the past year. Lairmore earlier in the year estimated that the county could collect as much as $100,000 from a use tax — not an insignificant amount for a county the size of Gasconade.

Meanwhile, Gasconade County’s good fortune regarding sales tax collections has been dampened a bit. After strong sales tax reimbursements from the state in each of the first three months — putting the county on a path for another record General Fund sales tax year — April’s reimbursement check came in almost $9,000 less than the amount received the same month a year ago.

Feagan on Thursday morning reported that April’s check was for $79,249, compared with $88,247 received in April of 2020. “We’re a little bit behind” for the month, he told the Commission. But, he added, “We’re still $11,000 ahead” of the amount received in the first four months of 2020.

The county treasurer pointed to the county’s monthly balance statement to illustrate how well the county is doing financially compared to last year. At the end of March, the county had in the bank $2,787,808; at the end of March of last year the balance sheet showed $2,516,871.

Also at the Commission session, Miskel praised the work of two public agencies in helping Gasconade County achieve a high rating of 28 percent of the population being vaccinated against the coronavirus, as of April 2.

“Our county health department and our hospital have done a fantastic job of getting people vaccinated,” he said.