Pevely voters will be asked on April 2 to approve a 1-cent sales tax increase to provide more funding for the city’s Police Department and for other safety improvements. As part of the ballot measure, the city will reduce residents’ real estate tax by half if the sales tax is approved.
The measure, called Proposition Public Safety, requires a simple majority vote to pass.
Currently, those who shop in the city pay 8.85 cents per $1 in sales tax. If the increase is approved, the sales tax rate would increase to 9.85 cents per dollar.
Pevely City Administrator Andy Hixson said the sales tax increase would bring in an additional $800,000 in revenue each year, and the city would lose about $400,000 annually by reducing the real estate tax, netting the city an extra $400,000.
By increasing the sales tax while decreasing the real estate property tax, all those who benefit from police services – both residents and visitors to the city – would contribute toward paying for police services, Hixson said.
Mayor Stephanie Haas said residents would be helping themselves by passing the measure.
“I think it’s very important for our emergency services to pass it,” Haas said. “I also think it is a benefit to them financially to be able to lower their property taxes.”
Police Chief Mark Glenn said the additional funds are necessary to both add and retain officers to better protect Pevely.
“There are a couple reasons (the extra funding is needed),” Glenn said. “We tend to have a significant turnover rate because officers take jobs with better pay. We’re looking to increase salaries.
“Then, we want to add officers. We are authorized for 15 officers (including Glenn). We haven’t been at 15 for a while. We would probably add three or four officers if it passes.”
