Information about the 1% Sales & Use Tax

INFORMATION
about the 1% Sales & Use Tax and how it
may continue to be used for the
Historic Downtown Branson
Community Improvement District

THIS IS NOT A NEW TAX; IT’S ONLY PROPOSING TO CONTINUE THE SAME 1% SALES AND USE TAX (THE “TAX”) ORIGINALLY PROPOSED BY THE HISTORIC DOWNTOWN DISTRICT’S PROPERTY OWNERS TO ADD SERVICES DESIGNED TO PROMOTE HISTORIC DOWNTOWN’S ECONOMIC SUCCESS!

THE TAX IS THE DISTRICT’S ONLY SOURCE OF FUNDING. HERE’S SOME OF WHAT THIS TAX HAS DONE SINCE 2006, AND MAY CONTINUE TO DO, IF EXTENDED:

  • Operate FREE trolleys inside the District 7 days a week March – December + some Jan./Feb.
    Well over a million passengers served already! (3 trolleys operate when full-time)
  • Maintain Historic Downtown landscaping & add new plants to improve aesthetics
  • Promote business activities in Historic Downtown on TV, Social Media, Print & more
  • Assist with Historic Downtown public improvements (as approved by the District on a case-by-case basis)
    (E.g., the District assisted with renovations of the Awbery Public Restroom and new RGB LED Lights)
  • Keep Christmas shining Downtown with the gorgeous snowflake fixtures, large tree, etc.
  • Have funds earmarked to assist with additional parking, when/if the City plans a project
  • Help with Historic Downtown Events, add décor with banners, and more

The City’s Board of Aldermen extended the term of the District until March 31, 2029, but only the District’s voters
may extend the Tax to continue funding the District’s operations during that time.

THE COUNTY WILL MAIL A BALLOT TO EACH REGISTERED VOTER OF THE DISTRICT in March for voters to decide whether to extend the Tax to the same date of March 31, 2029. (This would be a 3-year extension of the current tax.) Only registered voters will receive a ballot. District residents who are eligible to vote, but not registered to vote at their current address, may register or update their registration with the County Clerk’s office until March 15, 2026. District Residents who are already registered to vote at their current address do not need to take any other action to receive a mail-in ballot.

Voters will be required to sign their ballot package before a notary. Any notary may be used, and notaries are generally available at the following locations:

  1. Branson City Hall, City Clerk’s Office, 110 W Maddux Street, 8 am – 4:30 pm Monday through Friday
  2. There will be FREE notary services on two special dates/times by Triple Check Notary:
    Monday, April 6th & Wednesday, April 8th, 12 noon to 6 pm Branson Centennial Museum, 120 S Commercial Street
  3. You may have your own notary at your bank or attorney.

Ballots must be returned by the registered voter to the office of the Taney County Clerk (at 132 DAVID STREET, FORSYTH, MISSOURI 65653), by mail or in person, and received not later than 7:00 P.M. on April 14, 2026 in order to be counted.

THE BALLOT LANGUAGE: 

Shall the Historic Downtown Branson Community Improvement District (the “District”) reimpose a community improvement districtwide sales and use tax at the maximum rate of one percent (1.00%) to expire on March 31, 2029, for the purpose of providing revenue for funding the operation of the District and expenses related to projects and services within the District, which projects and services may include, but are not limited to, transportation services, public improvements, and promoting business activity? If passed, this will extend the expiration date of the current tax.