Liberty voters will decide whether to increase tax to fund police, fire departments
LIBERTY, Mo. (KCTV) - Voters in Liberty will decide whether to approve a plan aimed at raising millions to pay for public safety issues in Liberty.
of the Liberty City Council voted to put the proposed sales tax increase on the April 8 ballot.
If ed, the city sales tax would be increased by 1%. The tax is expected to raise $7.5 million according to information provided during the Jan. 27 city council meeting.
“This is something we’ve talked about for awhile and I think it’s just essential for this city as we move forward to have this available to us. I don’t think it’s a close call and I don’t think it’s, we’re not going to shake the quarters out of our couches in city buildings to come up with the money we need for this,” councilman Kevin Graham said.
The money will be use to expand the police department building. The remaining $6 million will be used to pay salaries of police officers and firefighters.
“No body sitting at this desk likes the idea of raising taxes, or going to ask the citizens to raise them. But, in order to have a first-class city with these first class employees and keep and attract and retain all these people, this is what we have to do. If we don’t, we’re defunding the fire department, we’re defunding the police if this doesn’t because we’re going to have to make strong budget decisions that will cut substantial amounts of other services,” councilman Michael Hagan said.
The council voted unanimously to put the tax on the April ballot.
Voters will see the following question on the April 8 ballot.
Some ers of the proposed tax, including Mayor Greg Canuteson said there are thousands of people who visit Liberty every day. Canuteson said that by ing a sales tax, visitors who also use city services will help pay for them.
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