City managers and chiefs urge yes vote on Proposition Police and Fire, saying it’s a no‑tax‑increase reallocation

City Manager Nick Edwards told the Joplin City Council that Proposition Police and Fire, on the April 7 ballot, would redirect an existing sales tax to make a dedicated investment in police and fire without increasing the tax rate. Edwards said the measure would fund additional hires, pay adjustments and facility and equipment upgrades and pointed listeners to the city website for more information.

“Vote yes allows for … we would be able to hire 9 additional police officers, 6 additional firefighters, do some significant pay changes to help us be competitive in the market, and then also address some facility and equipment,” Edwards said.

Fire Chief Ezell described historic demand on his department, saying the fire department handled 9,980 calls last year and is operating with eight vacancies. He said firefighters logged more than 30,500 hours of overtime in 2025 and noted that some stations and large apparatus need replacement; he cited a previously quoted ladder truck price of about $2,400,000.

Police Chief Pearson said the department handled about 79,950 calls for service last year and described chronic staffing shortfalls: “We’re authorizing 115 officers. We’re holding 11 actual vacancies … we’re 29 bodies short,” he said, urging that additional staffing would allow the department to add a sixth beat and reduce response times.

Union and community speakers backed the proposal. Mark Cox, identifying himself as president of the IFF, and Dottie Murphy, a citizen and mother of a Joplin officer, said the tax continuation would help retain staff and protect public safety. A number of speakers emphasized retention, work‑life balance and the competitive recruiting environment that draws officers and firefighters to other jurisdictions.

Council did not vote on the ballot measure itself; the presentation was intended to inform the public and council ahead of the April 7 election. City officials said educational materials are available at joplinmo.org/policefire and that the tax is a continuation/repurposing of an earlier sales tax (previously used for pension obligations) rather than a new tax.

If approved, staff said the measure would fund hiring, increase pay competitiveness, and support planned capital projects; it would not add a new tax rate, according to Edwards.

The council moved on after the presentation and public support comments without taking formal action on the measure at the meeting.