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Liberty council votes to place public safety sales tax question on April ballot
Summary
The Liberty City Council voted unanimously Jan. 27 to put a public safety sales tax measure on the April ballot to fund police and fire operations, debt service for a planned police facility expansion and future labor contracts.
The Liberty City Council voted unanimously Jan. 27 to place a public-safety-focused sales tax question on the April 2025 ballot, a measure city leaders said is needed to fund police and fire operations, pay debt service for a planned police facility expansion and cover upcoming labor contracts.
Council members said the measure was shaped by work from the budget committee and city staff and is intended to cover foreseeable expenses rather than generate excess revenue. Council members who spoke during the discussion cited rising costs for basic construction materials and longer-term pressures on the city budget.
Council members noted the city previously used a time-limited sales tax and one-time federal ARPA funds and fund balance in recent years to maintain competitive compensation and operations. According to council remarks during the meeting, about $3 million of the measure’s anticipated annual revenue would preserve current staffing and salary levels, $1.5 million would fund debt service for the police facility expansion and the remainder would help cover future contracts for police and firefighters.
Speakers also emphasized that a sales tax spreads the cost across residents and the many visitors and shoppers who come to Liberty each year. Council members repeatedly described the vote as a difficult but necessary decision to retain staff and sustain services.
The ordinance calling the election passed on second reading by unanimous vote and was approved by the mayor.
