Columbia residents could be casting ballots later this year on a proposed one percent sales and use tax that would be dedicated for public safety.
The city council will discuss the issue Monday during their 5 pm pre-meeting at city hall, and they’ll also hear a 45-page report.
Staff is proposing the one percent sales and use tax, which would require voter approval. Staff says the most critical need is stabilizing the city’s police and firefighter’s retirement fund. The city says the current funding gap is 51 percent for the police pension and 57 percent for the firefighters pension. If voters approve the ballot measure, city staff says it would raise about $38-million a year 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.