A special veto override session attended by seven of the Sedalia City Council members produced seven no votes on Monday at the Municipal Building.

 

On Tuesday night, Sedalia Council approved the addition of a one-eighth of a cent sales tax to the April 8 ballot, an idea introduced by Fourth Ward Councilman Steve Bloess at the Jan. 6 meeting.

 

But before the meeting had concluded, Mayor Andrew Dawson vetoed the idea, which triggered a veto override session scheduled for noon on Monday.

 

When City Clerk Jason Myers took a roll call, all Council members present voted not to override the Mayor’s veto of Bill 2025-7. (Second Ward Councilman Chris Marshall was absent).

 

So the proposal will not be on the April 8 ballot. Jan. 28 is the deadline for submitting ballot language, it was noted.

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In his veto memo, Mayor Dawson listed four reasons for doing so:

 

*Economic burden on Sedalia residents

*Clarification of the Washington Street Bridge Project

*Concerns about Pettis County’s one-percent tax proposal

*Need for alternative revenue strategies

 

Councilman Bloess stated that agreed with Point #3, and added that he has worked with the Pettis County Commission for two months to change the ballot language on their 1/2 cent sales tax proposal that will be on the April 8 ballot and was unsuccessful.

 

He added that Pettis County residents have seen no benefit from the Pettis County Road & Bridge Tax for the past three years.

 

Third Ward Councilman Bob Cross read a prepared statement listing his reasons for changing his position, which was influenced after hearing from constituents.

 

He noted that more money from an additional tax will not speed up the construction of a new bridge Washington Street Bridge.

 

Feedback on the matter also indicated that his constituents did not want any more tax burdens placed upon them.

 

Second Ward Councilwoman and Mayor Pro Tem Tina Boggess warned of the cost to place such a measure on the April 8 ballot.

 

“I do not feel this is the time or the reason to put this 1/8th cent tax on the ballot. Not only will it cost us to put it on the ballot, but then you’re asking the individuals of our City to may more money, and it’s time to end the misconception of ‘it will fix the bridge.’ It will NOT fix the bridge. We have other entities, other ways of fixing that bridge, and am one thousand percent behind getting that bridge fixed in a timely manner so that it will be safe for all who use it,” Boggess concluded.

In addition to the Mayor, seven Council members, staff and media, only four members of the general public attended the special session.

Veto Override Session

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