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Council moves forward to put Prop B public-safety sales-tax renewal on April ballot
Summary
Following testimony from police and fire unions about staffing shortfalls and overtime, council voted 8–1 to bring an ordinance calling the Prop B public-safety sales-tax renewal to the April ballot and asked staff for a clear spending plan for voter education.
The council voted to bring forward an ordinance calling for the renewal of the Prop B public-safety sales tax at the April election after testimony from public-safety representatives urged prompt action.
Tom Bowen, vice president of the local Fraternal Order of Police, said staffing shortages in the police department remain acute and argued the sooner voters approve a renewal the sooner officers could see improved retention prospects. Bowen noted a previous study that recommended 23 additional patrol officers and described shrinking street-level staffing.
Mark Cox, president of Local Joplin 59 Professional Firefighters, outlined operational strains at the fire department, citing a 4–7% year-over-year increase in emergency responses, 30,000 overtime hours in 2025 and more than 244 forced shifts. "We are committed," Cox said, urging an April ballot placement and volunteer outreach for education and canvassing.
Several council members urged clarity in the spending plan before a public-education push, asking staff to return at the February work session with committed allocations for wages, staffing, equipment and facilities. City manager Nick Edwards said roughly 75% of the renewal would likely support wages and staffing under current bargaining agreements and that staff would present a detailed spending plan for council review in February.
Councilmember Lawson moved, and Doctor Farnham seconded, to place the Prop B pension-sales-tax renewal on the April ballot; the motion passed 8–1. Edwards said the city will form a citizens committee, work with the chamber and prepare educational materials; the ballot renewal would not take effect until actuarial funding thresholds (120%) are met per earlier ballot language and the collective-bargaining agreement.
Council directed staff to prepare an ordinance for the April election, return a spending plan at the February work session and form an education coalition to explain the measure to voters.
