To The Editor,

The city of Warrenton now boasts one of the highest sales tax rate in the state at 9.475 percent. Unincorporated Warren county sales tax is 6.725 percent.

But buy something at Rural King and you’ll pay an even higher rate of 10.475 percent. Make the short drive to Wentzville and save over 2 percent on your Rural King purchases with their 8.45-percent sales tax rate! Adds up when making high-dollar purchases.

The argument from the way-too-many taxing districts we have that want to keep adding sales taxes is, “It makes both city and non-city residents pay for Warrenton’s spending.”

Not always true. If you’re buying a car, trailer, boat, ATV or any kind of vehicle that requires licensing, you pay the rate where you live.

City resident at 9.475 percent, versus unicorporated county resident at 6.725 percent:

Buy a $30,000 car, city resident pays an extra $825 more in sales tax for the same car versus unincorporated county resident.

Buy a $20,000 car, city resident pays an extra $550 more in sales tax for the same car versus unincorporated county resident.

When sales taxes come to all internet purchases, it will be by where you live. City residents will get the benefit of paying the much higher rate versus their unincorporated neighbor.

So next time you hear, “It’s only a half cent or only a quarter cent increase,” that’s how it got to 9.475 percent (or higher), and it never goes down or goes away.

Robert Borgerding

Warren County