Columbia voters to decide on 1% public safety sales tax that could generate $38 million annually
COLUMBIA, MO. (KMIZ)
Columbia voters on Tuesday are deciding whether to approve a 1% public safety sales tax that city leaders claim would generate about $38 million each year to support police and fire services.
Members of the Columbia Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 1055 will gather 7 p.m. Tuesday to watch election results as they wait to learn whether voters would approve the propositions.
During the past month, city officials held informational meetings in each of Columbia's six wards to explain how the proposed tax would work and what the additional funding could provide if approved.
Police department cites staffing and space needs
During one of the city's public meetings last month, Columbia Police Chief Jill Schlude said the department's top priorities include increasing officer pay to remain competitive with other law enforcement agencies across Missouri.
Schlude said Columbia has grown significantly during the past 26 years, stretching department resources.
"We've added about 49,000 people and about 15 additional square miles, which is a 20-28% land mass increase that we're responsible for providing services for," Schlude said.
According to the department, Columbia currently has 1.40 police officers per 1,000 residents, compared with 1.49 officers per 1,000 residents 26 years ago.
Schlude also said the department's current headquarters no longer meets the needs of modern policing, making a new facility one of the department's largest priorities.
Fire department looks to improve response times
If approved, the tax would also fund major investments in the Columbia Fire Department, including hiring 42 additional firefighters, building two new fire stations and renovating three existing stations.
Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer said adding 42 firefighters would allow every fire apparatus to be staffed with four firefighters instead of three.
"Those 42 will allow us to put a fourth firefighter on all of our apparatus. We currently only have three. Adding that fourth person allows us to split crews and basically double our effectiveness when it really matters," Schaeffer said.
Schaeffer said the department opened an interim fire station in Ward 1 in May, an area made up largely of single-family homes. While the neighborhood is considered lower risk, he said firefighters still face longer response times because of the city's continued growth.
"We want to be at your door 90% of the time within five minutes after we get alerted," Schaeffer said. "We used to be able to achieve that. As the city has grown, there are areas and pockets of the city where we're no longer able to meet that goal."
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