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Time and time again, Independence City Council members say they’ve heard their constituents express concern for public safety and for an increased presence of police officers.
Come April 3, voters will say whether they are willing to pay extra – as property owners – for that sense of security.
Council members Monday night unanimously approved a ballot question that will ask voters to consider voters a levy increase of 0.3629. That would result in a $5.75 per month impact on residential property owners whose home has an assessed market value of $100,000.
Those funds, if approved, would go toward 42 additional police personnel (38 sworn officers and sergeants and four civilian positions) and their associated equipment that would be phased in over three years.
“I don’t think this is just a council issue. I think that this is more of a community issue, and they deserve a chance to weigh in on this,” At-Large Council Member Jim Schultz said. “Is this a good time to add a new tax? No, but I don’t think that there is ever a good time to add a new tax, but I think this is an important issue.”
Last week, Police Chief Tom Dailey unveiled a new strategy that focuses on accessibility and visibility to the Police Department, an approach that would allow officers more time to proactively solve crimes. That plan is highly contingent on the passage of the April ballot initiative, however, and City Manager Robert Heacock said the number of police officers on Independence streets has remained constant for years.
“This is the first measure, that I’m aware of, in a long time where the city has really looked at adding the field personnel,” Heacock said. “... It’s the approach of how the resources are going to be utilized – not just the amount of officers – that I think will make a difference in this equation.”
The council Monday night also approved a separate resolution establishing a citizen oversight committee that would report twice a year on how the new revenue – if approved – was being spent and whether it was being spent as promised to voters. A member of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 1, the Police Department’s union, also would serve on the committee.
The visibility of police officers in residential neighborhoods, At-Large Council Member Lucy Young said, is the greatest demand she receives from her constituents.
“People need to understand that our police have done everything that they could to get that residential officer in there as often (as possible) and to be familiar with them,” Young said, “but it is not going to happen as long as they are so short-staffed. ... Unfortunately, if that’s what you want, you’re going to have to pay for it, because we’ve exhausted all of our resources. ... We’re really proud of them, and we really need to help bring more police officers on duty.”
Time and time again, Independence City Council members say they’ve heard their constituents express concern for public safety and for an increased presence of police officers.
Come April 3, voters will say whether they are willing to pay extra – as property owners – for that sense of security.
Council members Monday night unanimously approved a ballot question that will ask voters to consider voters a levy increase of 0.3629. That would result in a $5.75 per month impact on residential property owners whose home has an assessed market value of $100,000.
Those funds, if approved, would go toward 42 additional police personnel (38 sworn officers and sergeants and four civilian positions) and their associated equipment that would be phased in over three years.
“I don’t think this is just a council issue. I think that this is more of a community issue, and they deserve a chance to weigh in on this,” At-Large Council Member Jim Schultz said. “Is this a good time to add a new tax? No, but I don’t think that there is ever a good time to add a new tax, but I think this is an important issue.”
Last week, Police Chief Tom Dailey unveiled a new strategy that focuses on accessibility and visibility to the Police Department, an approach that would allow officers more time to proactively solve crimes. That plan is highly contingent on the passage of the April ballot initiative, however, and City Manager Robert Heacock said the number of police officers on Independence streets has remained constant for years.
“This is the first measure, that I’m aware of, in a long time where the city has really looked at adding the field personnel,” Heacock said. “... It’s the approach of how the resources are going to be utilized – not just the amount of officers – that I think will make a difference in this equation.”
The council Monday night also approved a separate resolution establishing a citizen oversight committee that would report twice a year on how the new revenue – if approved – was being spent and whether it was being spent as promised to voters. A member of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 1, the Police Department’s union, also would serve on the committee.
The visibility of police officers in residential neighborhoods, At-Large Council Member Lucy Young said, is the greatest demand she receives from her constituents.
“People need to understand that our police have done everything that they could to get that residential officer in there as often (as possible) and to be familiar with them,” Young said, “but it is not going to happen as long as they are so short-staffed. ... Unfortunately, if that’s what you want, you’re going to have to pay for it, because we’ve exhausted all of our resources. ... We’re really proud of them, and we really need to help bring more police officers on duty.”
