Columbia City Council works on public safety funding after voters approve 1% sales tax

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Voters approved a 1% public safety sales tax in Columbia’s Tuesday election and now city leaders are working to determine how the new revenue will be incorporated into the city’s budget.

Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon said 75 additional ballots were counted during Friday’s certification process. That includes two military and overseas ballots, 18 previously uncounted ballots and 55 provisional ballots.

Lennon said the final step before the election can be certified is a post-election test of the voting equipment, which is scheduled to be completed Monday.

The city expects the tax to generate about $38 million annually, with the money designated for public safety.

Ward 5 Council Member Christina Hartman said the city’s proposed fiscal year 2026-27 budget does not yet include revenue from the newly approved sales tax.

The city’s budget is divided into five different fund types:

• General Fund
• Enterprise Funds
• Internal Service Funds
• Special Revenue Funds
• Debt Service Funds

The General Fund is the city’s main source of flexible funding and pays for many of the everyday services residents rely on.

Zachary Privette, president of the Columbia Professional Firefighters Union, tells ABC 17 that the plan is to move about $60 million annually from the General Fund into public safety, in addition to the money expected from the new sales tax.

That raises questions about whether the city will continue funding police and fire through the General Fund at the same level in the future now that voters have approved a dedicated public safety tax.

Hartman said no final decision has been made.

She said the law does not prevent the city from decreasing General Fund support for police and fire, but ultimately, the decision will come down to the City Council and how city staff prioritizes spending.

“I do think that it is possible because there’s not a stipulation in the law that says that they can’t decrease it,” Hartman said. “But it’s really up to the council and how the city staff brings, like, what their priorities are and the council.”

Hartman says council members are expected to work toward finalizing the remaining budget items at the city’s next meeting.

The city’s public hearing on the budget is scheduled for August 17.

Check back for updates.