Hannibal voters pass two city-wide propositions during Tuesday vote

Published 7:40 am Wednesday, November 5, 2025

HANNIBAL — Hannibal voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly supported a new sales tax that will infuse revenue into public safety efforts including salaries for the city’s police and fire departments, based on unofficial results from Marion County.

Proposition 1 on Tuesday’s ballot was approved with 70.8% of the vote, with 1106 votes in favor and 457 against the tax.

Hannibal residents of Ralls County supported the public safety tax with five votes in favor and three votes against.

The Hannibal City Council approved adding the proposition to ballot in August after it was approved by the Missouri state legislature. With the passage by voters, a new 1/2% sales tax will be added to all retail purchases in the city of Hannibal to help fund public safety operations.

The council opted to use this method to increase public safety revenues as it will spread the tax out to guests and tourists visiting the city rather than putting that burden on property owners through new property taxes.

A second proposition on the ballot, Proposition M, also gained voter approval, with the vote of 985 in support to 554 against, or 64% to 36%. This proposition shifts the authority to appoint certain board and committee members from the city manager to the elected mayor.

The Ralls County votes showed support 6-2 for Proposition M.

This shift will see appointments to Hannibal’s Board of Public Works, Park Board, Zoning Commission, and Board of Adjustment fall under the mayor’s authority with the consent of the city council.

Results remain unofficial until certified by officials in both Marion and Ralls counties.