Republic voters approve sales tax increase

The city of Republic’s second try in two years at passing a public safety sales tax issue was successful Tuesday.

Proposition S, which aids the Republic police and fire departments by funding additional staff, adjusting pay to be more competitive with area municipalities and improving retirement benefits, earned nearly 72% approval, according to unofficial election results from the Greene County clerk’s office.

The three-quarter-cent sales tax is expected to generate over $2.1 million in additional revenue for the city in its first year and has a 25-year sunset, city leaders say. City Administrator David Cameron said the fiscal estimate is based on current city sales tax projections and an assumption of 2% annual growth, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting.

With the issue’s passage, the city sales tax rate will increase to 9.1% from its current 8.35%.

“The margin was admittedly surprising,” Cameron said via email, noting it likely will take around 90 days after the election results are certified for the city to start seeing the increased tax receipts.

The new sales tax allows the city to add 14 more firefighters and 12 police officers. Additionally, retirement benefits for all employees in both departments will increase by 9% to become more regionally competitive, and pay also will be boosted. Republic police officer starting pay currently is $34,528, and firefighters begin at $33,451. The increase will be 6% for police and 5% for fire personnel, according to past reporting.

Wage increases and new employee hiring will start as early as November, Cameron said, adding the 9% boost in retirement benefits should begin within 45 days.

The Fire Department currently employs 20, while 24 staff the Police Department. Cameron said budget constraints previously restricted adding staff to the departments for around 15 years.

In 2019, roughly 57% of Republic voters rejected a proposed 1-cent sales tax increase to provide additional public safety resources, such as hiring more firefighters and police officers. However, the ballot language also noted funds would improve public infrastructure, pay off debts and provide additional city services. City officials say public feedback sought after the election determined the funds were being proposed for too many purposes. Proposition S was a scaled- back version of the prior tax proposal, focusing solely on public safety.

“It shows when you listen to the community and make the adjustments to the measure that they will give their support,” Cameron said.

Yesterday’s sales tax passage comes after voters approved a $16 million bond issue in April for Republic schools to fund construction projects and a property purchase for a new school building.