Westminster discusses 0.4% sales tax to fund new fire stations, staffing and neighborhood street repairs

Westminster officials outlined a potential 0.4% city sales tax proposal at a July town hall to pay for additional fire stations and personnel and to dedicate recurring funding for neighborhood street repairs.

City Manager Jody Andrews said the 0.4% increase would raise the city sales tax from 3.85% to 4.25%, equating to "4¢ on a $10 purchase," and estimated it would cost an average family of four about $10 a month. He said the measure would fund staffing for a new central station and the northern station (the north station’s construction is partially funded by Urban Renewal Authority money), reconstruction of Fire Station 3, and would set aside $2,000,000 a year for neighborhood pavement work.

The proposal follows a failed ballot asking in which residents rejected a larger 0.5% sales tax last year. Andrews and Mayor Nancy McNally told attendees staff tightened budgets and identified non‑tax revenue before returning to the community with a smaller ask. "We asked a few questions and ... two thirds of the people, in June ... said yes,…