Cape Girardeau voters to decide real estate, property tax levy for police, firefighter salaries
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – A big question before voters in Cape Girardeau, one that could determine whether or not police officers and firefighters see a raise of at least 8% raise.
On the April 2 ballot, voters will vote on a real estate and property tax levy dedicated to police and fire fighter’s salaries and benefits.
In a one-on-one interview with FOX23 News Anchor Holly Brantley, Cape Girardeau Mayor Stacy Kinder discusses what this would mean for the city and other issues Cape Girardeau faces right now.
It’s a property tax increase that will go specifically for police and fire salary and benefits,” said Mayor Kinder.
Cape Girardeau Mayor Stacy Kinder says voters have an important decision to make April 2.
On the ballot is a real estate and property tax levy to give police officers and firefighters a raise.
“What we are finding is that we are doing salary increases across the board and our public safety forces are so expensive we just haven’t been able to make those significant salary increases like we’d like to doing it same way we’ve always done it so this is a new idea to tap into our property tax,” said Mayor Kinder.
Kinder explained for $100 in assessed property value there would be an increase of about 25 cents in property tax.
On the city’s website, voters can look at a chart to find out what their additional cost would be if the tax passes.
“Here in Cape, there is an average home value of around $200,000,” said Mayor Kinder. “And if you follow that chart that shows that roughly that would mean $120 increase in a persons property tax bill.”
She says the tax would help ensure our public safety force has a competitive salary for years to come, increasing by at least 8% in the first year.
“Our salaries have not been very competitive to be honest,” said Mayor Kinder.
In a letter to the citizens of Cape, Chief of Police Wes Blair and Fire Chief Randy Morris encouraged the community to invest in our people saying our general revenue property tax rate is among the lowest of comparable cities across the state.
They wrote: “our community deserves the best– and offering competitive salaries aligned with comparable cities throughout the state enhances our ability to attract quality candidates and retain those who have committed their professionals careers to this city.”
If voters say no, police and firefighters will see the same cost of living raise as other city employees. That will be determined in June when the next budget is finalized.
“What we like about using the property tax method it is a very stable. It is a very consistent revenue source,” said Mayor Kinder.
She also discussed recent violence in Cape Girardeau including the late February shooting near CVS Pharmacy. She praised first responders for their work:
“I think everyone in these higher profile things I think everyone’s been amazing. So grateful at the response that our public safety folks had, and every one of those situations,” said Mayor Kinder.
She says the city is very data driven, always exploring options to keep the community safer and will soon as the public to join in on those conversations:
“We are a wonderful community,” said Kinder. “There has been some alarming things come recently and it’s alarming to the whole city because people care about our community”
Mayor Kinder says it’s a good time to live in Cape Girardeau with exciting developments happening across town from the mall to the Old Town District.
“We’re seeing the benefits now of tax initiatives for example, that have been approved in the past by a voters and so that brings in new ballfields new facilities, a lot of programs and things like that,” said Mayor Kinder. “So I have to say, first of all, thanks to the taxpayers and the voters in our community who have seen that these things would be great here. There are a lot of developers of business people that are doing some new and really interesting things.”
Voters go to the polls on Tuesday, April 2.
Tap here to see charts for homeowners and the letter from the police and fire chief.
Tap here to view page 2 of the letter to Cape Girardeau citizens from police and fire chiefs
Related story:
City of Cape considering to ask voters on tax levy for public safety salaries
