You have an opportunity Tuesday to learn details about Columbia’s Proposition 1 and to hear from the three candidates seeking Columbia’s vacant fourth ward council seat.
The Mid-Missouri Board of Realtors plans a Proposition 1 discussion Tuesday from 5 to 5:20 pm at their office at 311 Bernadette, followed by the Fourth ward candidate forum from 5:30 to 7:15.
Columbia voters will cast ballots in August on a proposed one percent sales/use tax that would be dedicated to public safety. Columbia officials say it’s needed to stabilize the city’s police and firefighter’s retirement fund.
Columbia city manager De’Carlon Seewood has told 939 the Eagle that if voters approve Proposition 1, $38-million would be generated annually and that there would be 50 additional police officers and 40 additional firefighters over four years, along with two new fire stations with apparatus and a new police station.
Three Columbia fire stations would also be renovated if the ballot measure passes, city officials say.
Columbia police chief Jill Schlude and Third ward council member Jacque Sample will speak at the Proposition 1 event and the second forum features Fourth ward council candidates Dave Sorrell, Ryan King and Sharon Jones.
You can attend the forums in-person or watch/listen to them virtually: you can find a link to the livestreams here.
What it means: Tuesday’s forum provides you with an opportunity to hear from all three Columbia Fourth ward council candidates and to hear numerous details about August’s Proposition 1 in Columbia.