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Smithville considers another public-safety sales-tax question; board debates timing and outreach
Summary
Staff briefed the Board of Aldermen on the statutory limits and previous failed vote on a half-cent public-safety sales tax, recommended forming a campaign committee and outreach plan, and sought direction on timing (board members split between April 2025 and November 2025/2026).
City staff and the board spent the longest portion of the work session discussing whether to place a public-safety sales-tax question before voters. Staff reviewed the enabling statute, explained the city previously placed a half-cent public-safety sales-tax question on last November—s ballot that failed, and reminded the board of a roughly 365-day statutory waiting period before the city could re-submit the same authorization without returning to the legislature.
Speaker 9 (staff) said the enabling legislation is written to apply to municipalities within specific population bands in particular counties and that if the question fails, the authorization in that statutory section terminates and the city would need new legislation to try again. "So we would have to go back and get legislation again," Speaker 9 said.
Staff recommended potential uses for the tax if approved, including increased officer compensation for recruitment and retention, necessary equipment and staffing to support growth, and implementing an animal-control program. Staff also reported that they had contacted the school district, the fire district and the ambulance district and that those entities are reviewing potential ballot measures in the same time frame.
Board members debated timing: some said the public may not be ready for another tax and favored waiting for a higher-turnout November election to allow more public education; others favored an April 2025 ballot with a focused education campaign and a citizen committee to assist outreach. Several members emphasized the statutory risk that failing again would require returning to the legislature and urged a thorough communications plan if the board directs staff to proceed. One board member urged better public communication than in the previous campaign.
Speaker 1 cautioned against framing the tax as a way to supplant general-fund spending: "It's illegal to move the money from anything besides public safety," Speaker 1 said, repeating the staff—s point that funds raised under the statute must be used for public-safety purposes.
Next steps: staff will prepare draft ballot language (which must be certified in January if the board opts to proceed) and a public-information plan; members signaled tentative interest in April 2025 if a committee and communications plan are ready, but several also recommended November 2025 or a later date to provide more time for outreach.
