Proposal for August sales tax vote to come before Columbia City Council

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia City Council will hear a first reading Monday of a potential August ballot issue to create a public safety sales tax.

The ordinance to put the tax before voters on Aug. 4 is listed under the introduction and first reading portion of the council's agenda, meaning it won't be discussed at Monday's meeting. The bill will be up for a second reading and a city council vote next month on whether it should be on the ballot.

A city council memo states that the tax would generate approximately $38 million, which would be used to fund 50 police officers and 40 firefighters over four years. The money would also go to build a new police facility, buy equipment for police and firefighters and maintain competitive pay, the memo states.

Sales tax in Columbia is 7.975% outside of special taxing districts, where it tops out at nearly 9%. The city's portion of that tax is 2%. Columbia shoppers already pay a 1-cent general sales tax, a half-cent transportation sales tax and quarter-cent taxes for capital improvements and parks.

Police and fire leaders have pushed for more staffing for several years as city budget experts have warned of flat or declining sales tax receipts. CPD Chief Jill Schlude laid out her department's needs at a joint meeting between city and county officials and University of Missouri leaders.

CPD has 12 vacant spots and a headquarters that is over 100 years old, Schlude said. The new headquarters would be in the old IBM building on Lemone Industrial Boulevard.