Osage Beach Proposes Half-Cent Sales Tax To Fund Ambulance, Police, Dispatch

OSAGE BEACH, Mo. — The Osage Beach city leaders this week will vote on whether to propose a half-cent sales tax increase for the purpose of funding public safety services.

On the Osage Beach Board of Aldermen agenda for the board's Jan. 7, 2026 meeting, the board is set to discuss the proposed tax and vote on putting it on the April municipal ballot (all tax increases in Missouri are subject to approval by voters).

READER POLL: Osage Beach's Public Safety Sales Tax

Should a half-cent sales tax be added in Osage Beach for the purposes of funding public safety services — police, ambulance, and dispatch?

The notes from City Clerk Tara Berreth specify the tax would be used for the following:

• Salaries: Ensuring competitive pay to recruit and retain qualified police officers, EMTs, paramedics, and dispatchers.

• Equipment: Maintain the most up to date vehicles, radios, protective gear, technology, and lifesaving medical equipment.

• Buildings: Maintenance, upgrades, and expansion of police, ambulance, and dispatch facilities to meet growing demand. Ambulance base on the East side of the Grand Glaize bridge to reduce response times.

Based on sales tax revenues from the past few years, the City expects revenues from this new sales tax would be approximately $2.9 million per year.

Currently both Camden and Miller Counties currently collect a Law Enforcement Sales Tax from businesses within Osage Beach. However, none of those funds collected go to the City of Osage Beach nor any other municipalities within those two counties, as those funds are for the sheriff’s offices only.

Berreth's summary added: "Funds raised through this Public Safety Sales Tax will be restricted exclusively to public safety purposes. Annual reports will be published to ensure transparency and accountability."

If approved by voters, the tax would begin being collected on Oct. 1, 2026.

Municipal elections in Missouri this year are set for April 7, 2026.

If approved by the board, the ballot language would read:

Shall the City of Osage Beach, Missouri, impose a citywide sales tax of one-half of one percent (0.5%) for the purpose of improving the public safety of the City?