The West Plains City Council voted Monday to place a 1% sales tax increase before voters on the Aug. 4 ballot.
The vote marked the second reading of an ordinance presented last month. If approved, the measure will add 1% to the existing 1% city sales tax and is expected to generate about $4 million annually in new revenue.
The city plans to borrow funds to cover initial construction costs and utilize the additional sales tax revenue to pay down the loan. Any excess revenue generated would fund other municipal projects and expenses.
The ballot measure stems from council efforts to fund facilities and services prioritized by residents in the city’s comprehensive plan. The plan was guided by a feasibility study from Hunden Partners presented in March.
If passed by voters, the sales tax will be permanent and will not be legally earmarked for a specific purpose. However, city officials intend to use the majority of the funds to build a multi-use indoor sports facility to replace the Jimmie Carroll Sports Complex. While the current complex hosts sports camps, tournaments and community events, officials noted it is frequently booked to capacity.
The new project was identified as a city priority based on public input and an uptick in usage at the current facility. The estimated budget for the project is $14 million to $15 million.
The current design concept features a 41,200-square-foot building that would house four basketball courts, eight volleyball courts, 12 pickleball courts and an indoor walking track. The plans also include 3,000 square feet of office space, restrooms, concessions and locker rooms.
Several potential building sites are under consideration, including tracts already owned by the city and properties located near existing hotels, shopping centers and restaurants. Proximity to retail, food and lodging is expected to be a selling point when marketing the facility for regional sports tournaments.
Officials cited the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national volleyball tournament, which West Plains hosted for several years, as a prime example of how such events boost the local economy through hotel stays and retail sales.
“You know, we’re looking at more than a sports complex. After that’s done, this funding would help on so many other projects,” Mayor Mike Topliff said. “In our recent meeting with the Rotary (Club) where they’ve discussed if we might possibly be able to get the NJCAA back here, having a big sports complex like that would be a big, big card for us to have up the sleeve.”
City Administrator Sam Anselm noted that any spending on additional municipal projects would go through the City Council’s standard appropriations and approval process.
Councilman Crockett Oaks III asked if the facility would produce a surplus revenue directly for the city. Anselm replied that while indoor sports facilities rarely generate a direct profit on their own, the city expects a strong "secondary" economic impact. That benefit would come through increased local sales tax collections on goods, dining and lodging from out-of-town visitors.
Councilman Johnny Murrell asked for a timeline on when construction would begin if voters approve the initiative. Anselm estimated it would take about a year to break ground, noting that the ballot measure must pass before the city can finalize property purchases or move forward with formal development.
