Republic’s one-penny sales tax would generate $2.7 million per year

When Republic voters go to the polls on Tuesday, April 2, they will be asked to approve a one-penny sales tax initiative. The tax, if it passes, is expected to generate $2.7 million in revenue for the city. In 10 years, the sales tax is estimated to generate $29,602,474.
The ballot initiative book, found on the city’s website, states $6,544,250, or 22.11-percent, will go to the police department; $6,763,961, or 22.85-percent, will go to the fire department and $6,378,000, or 21.55-percent, would go to the construction of a new city hall. Some of the funds would also go towards paying retirement benefits for city employees; the retirement fund would receive $4,317,000, or 14.58-percent. And $3,557,000, or 12.02-percent, would go to street improvements; $1,136,550, or 3.84-percent, would go to debt payment, and $905,712, or 3.06-percent, would go to additional services.
According to the city’s website, part of the revenue would go towards increasing public safety by hiring 10 new firefighters, nine new police officers and an animal control officer. Public outreach programs for neighborhoods and businesses would also be expanded.
Brian Sells, chief of the Republic Police Department, said an increase is needed in the number of officers employed by the city to adequately protect residents.
“Our population has grown to 17,333,” he said. “Despite the growth, we still have the same number of police officers we did prior to a 2005 vote of the citizens.”
The fire department also needs more personnel. According to statistics included on the city’s website, the fire department currently employs 21 firefighters, the same number it had in 2007 with a population of 8,438 and the city covered 8.4 square miles. Today, in addition to the increase in population, the city has almost doubled in size; it now covers 15.6 square miles. Also, the fire department responded to 928 calls in 2007. This year, they are projected to answer 2,100 emergency calls.
The city also wants to increase the salaries of police officers and firefighters to keep experienced members of both departments from leaving for higher paying jobs in the area. Currently, the starting pay for a police officer in Republic is $34,528; $32,634 for a firefighter. The new sales tax would allow starting pay for officers increase to $38,628 and $34,951 for firefighters, as well as provide higher pay for higher ranking officers and firefighters.
The city contends that this would make salaries more competitive with other area agencies. Officers in the Springfield Police Department and the Greene County Sheriff’s Office have a starting pay of $37,585 and $38,792 per year, respectively. Firefighters in Branson and Springfield are paid $35,959 and $34,486 per year, respectively.  
Additionally, despite the recent renovations made to the current city hall, the city hopes to use funds from the proposed sales tax to build a new one. The current city hall is made up of three interconnected buildings, some of which are over 100 years old. Some of the concerns with the current city hall include:  poor working space, a failure to meet city code, environmental, mechanical and structural challenges, ADA challenges, and a lack of parking and meeting space, among others.
The current city hall also has security issues, such as nothing to stop an aggressor from entering and making their way throughout the building, as well as no security barriers to stop a vehicle from being driven into the building.
If Republic residents pass the tax, the city could begin construction on a new building by 2021. The building would cost $6.5 million and be paid off in five years.
More information can be found on the proposed sales tax at the Republic City website, www.republicmo.com. Click on the “Community” tab, and then go to press releases, where information can be found under the posting, “Ballot initiative town hall meeting set for Feb. 28.” There will also be an opportunity to get more information at the RepMo Expo from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m Saturday, March 30, at the Republic Community Center.