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Council approves immediate 0.33% EMS sales tax and sends up to 1% ballot measure to voters
Summary
After hours of debate, the council approved a dual approach: implement a 0.33% emergency‑services sales and use tax immediately and place language on the November ballot allowing voters to authorize up to 1% (with the council’s intent to reduce the city's portion of property tax by 50% if approved). The initial 1% ballot resolution and the 0.33% implementation passed on split votes.
The council spent the longest portion of its meeting debating how to fund growing emergency‑service needs — particularly fire and ambulance/EMS — and how to balance those needs against the council’s desire to reduce property‑tax burdens. City manager Jeremy Redd presented a staff recommendation and background showing that public‑safety spending already consumes a large share of the general fund.
Two distinct but related actions were on the table: (1) a proposed ballot question asking voters in November whether to approve up to a 1% emergency services sales and use tax to fund fire protection and EMS, coupled…
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