Following the lead of Joplin, the Springfield city council is considering appointing a committee to provide oversight of the various taxes being collected by the city. Joplin's committee is "designed to oversee the distribution of some of Joplin's sales tax dollars" according to an article in today's Springfield Business Journal.
Personally, I like the idea. I've spoken to Doug Doll, chairman of Joplin's Parks and Storm Water, Capital Improvements and Public Safety Sales Tax Oversight Committee, a few times about his role and the function of the committee. He's been very pleased with the work being done there. If nothing else, it helps provide the public with an added layer of confidence related to the collection and spending of taxpayer funds - something I view as critical for any governing body.
While the city of Neosho does have a committee for Economic Development, Joplin has gone further by including most, if not all, of their sales tax collections along with structuring the committee in a very non-partisan and independent manner.
It will be interesting to see how Springfield votes, but I feel confident they will build on Joplin's success story. I hope Neosho follows close behind.
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