BALLOT TITLE
FIVE YEAR LOCAL OPTION TAX FOR POLICE SERVICES
QUESTION: Shall Fairview be authorized to levy $1.1608 per $1,000 of assessed value for 5 years for police services beginning 2001-02? This measure may cause property taxes to increase more than three percent.
SUMMARY: If approved, the proposal authorizes the City to levy up to $1.1608 per $1,000 of assessed value for five years beginning in tax year 2001-02.
Currently, the City has eight officers including the Chief. This would add 2 new patrol officers and 1 new sergeant (a 37.5% increase in personnel). Items covered by the levy are wages, benefits, computers, office equipment, supplies, training, uniforms and other items for five years. In addition, the levy would allow over five years the purchase, maintenance and operation of three vehicles.
This will allow the Department to keep pace with the added law enforcement duties arising from Fairview's increased population which stands at approximately 6370 and achieve the statewide average of 1.7 sworn police personnel per 1000 in population. Fairview continues to move toward full twenty-four-hour police coverage.
A home with an assessed value of $100,000 would pay $116.08 per year. It would raise an estimated $303,664 in 2001-02, $327,957 in 2002-03, $354,193 in 2003-04, $382,529 in 2004-05, and $413,131 in 2005-06, for a total estimate of $1,781,474.
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Measure # 26-14 asks the voters of the City of Fairview to authorize a five-year levy which would increase the tax rate by $1.16 for a total estimated amount of $1,781,474 to be used exclusively for police services.
The increased funds would provide:
1. The addition of two new Patrol Officers and one Sergeant (a 37.5% increase in personnel).
2. Necessary office equipment, supplies, training, uniforms and other police items for those new positions for five years.
3. Three new police vehicles, purchased over a five year period, and their maintenance and operation.
The increase of $1.16 per thousand dollar assessed value for police services will allow the City of Fairview to continue its tradition of providing "community policing", to keep pace with the added law enforcement duties arising from Fairview's increased population growth, and to move Fairview toward full twenty-four-hour police coverage.
Submitted by
Caren C. Huson Quiniones
City Recorder
No arguments FOR or AGAINST this measure were filed.