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Council sets Nov. 3 hearing on 0.1% public-safety sales tax to pay for officers, training and equipment
Summary
Council voted to set a public hearing on an ordinance to enact a 0.1% sales and use tax for public safety; staff estimates $500,000 for the last nine months of 2026 and about $650,000 annually thereafter, with initial revenue to cover two officer hires, their equipment and a vehicle.
City council set a public hearing for Nov. 3 on an ordinance to impose a 0.1% sales-and-use tax for public safety, a step staff said is necessary to codify the levy and make it effective April 1, 2026.
Megan (staff member) told council the measure would be “effective 04/01/2026, and for 2026, bring in approximately $500,000 for 9 months.” The presentation added that a full 12 months of collections would be roughly $650,000, depending on market conditions.
Staff said the initial year's revenue is intended to fund two new police officers along with training, uniforms, equipment and an additional vehicle. Megan said the total associated costs for those staged additions in 2026 would be about $474,000, with some onetime purchases and ongoing replacement costs for equipment and vehicles noted in future years.
The city is also preparing an application to the Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) to recruit entry-level officers. Megan said department policies are in place and that a few training requirements remain; staff expects to finish those by December and to submit the CJTC paperwork. Megan noted the CJTC assistance applies to entry-level recruits, not laterals.
Council moved and approved setting the hearing; the ordinance title read as a single one-tenth of 1% public-safety sales tax and will return to council for public testimony and possible adoption following the hearing.
This action sets a step in the ordinance schedule; it does not by itself adopt the tax. More detail on projected revenue and the timing of officer hires will be available during the public hearing process.
