(From the City of Joplin)Public Safety is a significant priority for all communities. On August 2, 2022, Joplin citizens will vote on whether they agree with the status quo or improvements for the Joplin Police and Fire Departments as they consider Proposition Public Safety.
Proposition Public Safety is an effort to improve funding for Police and Fire services within the community, which will help offer stability and consistency for these departments for a S.A.F.E.R. Joplin.
City staff and committee members are using the acronym S.A.F.E.R. to help explain the proposition identifying it as focusing on key elements it addresses as Safer, Accountable, Financial, Economic Development, and Recruitment and Retention.
Citizens are invited to learn more about this initiative during a Public Meeting from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 27 at the Silver Creek Community Center at 3106 Silver Creek Drive. Attendees can talk with Joplin Police Chief Sloan Rowland and Assistant Fire Chief Andy Nimmo along with members of the Citizens Committee for Prop PS and other City officials about this important question. The meeting will provide the opportunity for citizens to ask questions about this proposal before voting on this important community question on August 2. Informational handouts will also be provided during the meeting.
Citizens will vote on Proposition Public Safety on August 2 on whether they support a property tax to grow and support public safety services in our community. The proposed tax will levy a $1.00 tax for every $100 of assessed value on all real and personal property, leading to a S.A.F.E.R community. Property tax revenue will improve salaries for public safety, as well as provide funding for additional police officers and firefighters.
Along with the City, both the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 27 and the Joplin Professional Firefighters Local 59 agree on these improvements as everyone works together to solve for a SAFER Joplin.
Citizens are invited to learn more about this initiative during a Public Meeting from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 27 at the Silver Creek Community Center at 3106 Silver Creek Drive. Attendees can talk with Joplin Police Chief Sloan Rowland and Assistant Fire Chief Andy Nimmo along with members of the Citizens Committee for Prop PS and other City officials about this important question. The meeting will provide the opportunity for citizens to ask questions about this proposal before voting on this important community question on August 2. Informational handouts will also be provided during the meeting.
Citizens will vote on Proposition Public Safety on August 2 on whether they support a property tax to grow and support public safety services in our community. The proposed tax will levy a $1.00 tax for every $100 of assessed value on all real and personal property, leading to a S.A.F.E.R community. Property tax revenue will improve salaries for public safety, as well as provide funding for additional police officers and firefighters.
Along with the City, both the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 27 and the Joplin Professional Firefighters Local 59 agree on these improvements as everyone works together to solve for a SAFER Joplin.
A SAFER Joplin is focused on Service. Unfortunately, with recent trends and higher wages in the private sector, the number of people seeking careers in law enforcement and firefighting is declining, creating a challenge to provide these essential services for our community.
A SAFER Joplin is being Accountable. Our firefighters and police officers are responsible for critical services that the private sector does not offer. They are proud to be the stewards in roles of this magnitude.
A SAFER Joplin utilizes Financial resources responsibly. Joplin is near the top of the sales tax limit. We currently have a 17-cent property tax – which is restricted to Health, Parks, and Recycling services only. Assessing a general property tax lessens the reliance on economy-driven sales tax revenues while providing a resource to fund critical public safety services.
A SAFER Joplin seeks Economic Development opportunities for our community. Those looking to invest or relocate to Joplin expect protection not only for themselves but their loved ones, their property, and the community as a whole.
A SAFER Joplin Recruits and Retains public safety personnel. We value the significance of public safety services with competitive pay and positive working conditions to provide quality essential services to our community.
More information will be available at the public meeting and can also be found on the City’s website at www.JoplinMo.org/Elections
A SAFER Joplin seeks Economic Development opportunities for our community. Those looking to invest or relocate to Joplin expect protection not only for themselves but their loved ones, their property, and the community as a whole.
ReplyDeleteThe above statement should consider that - With increased property taxes - those looking to invest or relocate to Joplin - WILL LOOK ELSE WHERE - for lower property taxes.
!
ReplyDeleteThe city will not discuss a "Plan B" if the tax fails.
ReplyDeleteI am seeing discussions on emails and social media for an alternative
created by Joplin citizens. Seems to be increasing.
Folks discuss voting against the tax increase and urging the city and the council
to use all the ARPA (American Recovery Plan Act) funds for police/fire/safety.
That is 13.8 million bucks and is way more than the 9 million the City/property/Edwards tax would give. And then use all the Use Tax proceeds (2 million $) for safety too.
15.8 million for safety and police and fire.
Way more than the tax increase would give.
Sounds legit.
Anybody else see this?
Council member Gary Shaw said he favors a fire district tax that would provide about $7.7 million along with spending $600,000 in public safety sales tax money to fund a new wage plan. He said the city also could take $400,000 out of general fund to get the rest needed for the plan.
ReplyDelete"But the property tax is the simplest," he said. "I will vote for it if we get down to that point, but I have not heard one person that has been in favor in it at this point."
I think you are correct - other funding measures are available - please see what Gary Shaw said in a recent council meeting - about the "fire district tax". Vote "NO" and we will see a Plan B - come forward.
Mr. Shaw has a pretty good read on how people feel about the issue. He is a good listener and understands that high taxes have a negative effect as well.
ReplyDeleteHis plan is a good one too, but the fire district tax is a new tax, no?
Or is it already levied?
I am also stunned that more folks are not talking about this publicly.
Especially businesses that cannot raise prices that people will automatically pay.
Some businesses will go under, especially if they are on a tight budget and have a big real estate footprint downtown that has a high valuation.
About the tax proposal for Aug. 2nd, it would raise the property tax
ReplyDeletelevied in Nov., payable before Dec 31st, with the funds back to the City of Joplin
in Feb/Mar 2023. It would raise a home property tax, all real estate holding taxes, and the personal property tax
(cars, trucks, RVs, trailers, scooters, motorcycles, jet skis, boats and so on) by 21.4% too.
It would apply to all businesses, their real estate, and their business property (delivery vans,
equipment, cars, and buildings, and also apply a 21.4% rise in taxes to all agricultural property and land.
Non payment would result in penalties applied by the county and would proportionally
increase every month of non payment.
Continued non payment would result in foreclosure, initiated by Jasper County.
Banks making loans on real estate would demand that these taxes be part of the mortgage
to protect themselves.
So far the city has not fully explained all this.
The pass rate is 50% for this tax and the same tax for Memorial Hall was set at a 57.3% pass rate.
The two proposals are only 3 months apart. That disparate rate was set by City staff without
explanation.
There is an alternative that gives more money for police/fire and safety without more taxes.
Use the American Rescue Plan Act money (13.8 $ million available now).
Use the 'USE TAX' sales tax proceeds (2 million $ in the city's accounts now).
Total: 15.8 $ million dollars, more than the 9 million $ the new tax will give.
Although many citizens are opposed to the new tax, the vote is stacked in favor of it.
ReplyDeleteIt is at 50% , not 57.3% like the Memorial Hall tax.
The city and the council put their thumb on the scales to make it more likely to pass.
2200 voters will likely come to the polls.
150 police employees, 150 fire employees and families, 150 city employees and families; 450 yes votes there, chamber of commerce admin. = 25 more. 475 yes votes.
All they need is 1101 yes votes.
They have 475 already. All they need are about 626 more.
That is why most of these tax votes require 57.3%, cause the city has such an advantage.
And their campaign leans heavily on fear and emotion.
It is all up to how many voters look at Plan B and understand the tax issue and how many come to the polls.
Well, we now see the council and Mr. Edwards have scheduled a vote on the ARPA funds the day before the election on Aug 2. Probably should delay the vote till the election is over, since the ARPA funds represent a plan B for police funding should the Edwards tax bill fail.
ReplyDelete