The Houston City Council was asked Monday to place on the April ballot a half-cent city sales tax for public safety to benefit the community’s fire and police departments.
Police Chief Tim Ceplina outlined the proposal on behalf of Robbie Smith of the fire department, who was unable to attend.
Of the $370,000 estimated to be generated annually, about two-thirds would go to the fire department and the balance to the police department. There is a 10-year sunset proposed and requires voter approval again to keep it on the books. Previously, the city had an eighth-cent sales tax that purchased an aerial fire truck. It has since expired.
Ceplina said the tax would alleviate the problem of the city funding needs from its existing budget. He cited the purchase of a recent used fire truck.
The monies would be used for vehicles for both departments, equipment needs and for manpower and training. The proposal presented to the council also discusses the eventual construction of a fire and police station that also could be used for training proposals. The latter could be used to draw other public safety employees into the community for events, Ceplina said.
“This would allow us to comply with National Fire Protection Association standards and meet our needs to sustain our current ISO class 4 rating,” according to a proposal to the council.
Mountain Grove, he said, recently passed a 1 percent tax for public safety.
The deadline to place an issue on the ballot is Jan. 22.
The Houston School District also is considering an April ballot issue that includes the construction of a new gym on campus, among several improvements. It does not call for any tax increase.