Columbia’s police chief is grateful to voters for narrowly approving Proposition One this month.
That’s a one percent sales/use tax that will be dedicated to public safety. Chief Jill Schlude tells reporters that this has been needed for a long time:
“I don’t think right now we can underestimate the long-term impact this has on this community and on the folks that work and will someday work for the Columbia police and the Columbia fire department,” Chief Schlude says.
Collections for the new tax will start in January.
Columbia’s city manager appreciates voters approving Proposition One last week. It passed by 85 votes. City manager De’Carlon Seewood says the city held a community summit and has done community surveys:
“And by far the biggest priority that we heard was public safety. There was a need for us to seeing more police officers,” Mr. Seewood says.
The new tax will start being collected in Columbia in January. Mr. Seewood expects about $38-million to be generated annually from Proposition One and says the plan is for 50 additional police officers and 40 additional firefighters over four years.
What’s next: The new tax will start to be collected in January.