Sales Tax to Help Pay for U.S. 36 Expansion to Expire

The special sales tax that was established to help pay for a four-lane Highway 36 in northeast Missouri is going away.

In 2005, voters in Marion, Monroe, Shelby and Macon counties approved a half-cent sales tax to help fund the completion of the last 52 miles of a four-lane U.S. 36 between Macon and Hannibal.

Officials with the Interstate 72 Corridor Transportation Development District announced Wednesday that the $34.29 million dollar obligation by the group has been paid and the tax is no longer needed.

The sales tax had been approved for 15 years, so the tax is being repealed three-and-a-half years early. Officially, the tax expires July 31st.

The four-lane upgrade of 36 was completed in 2010.