Jackson public safety sales tax measure passes

Voters in Jackson responded with a resounding �yes� when asked to impose a one-half cent sales tax to improve public safety measures in the city, according to unofficial poll results posted Tuesday night.

Jackson Mayor Dwain Hahs said when reached by phone Tuesday evening after the polls closed he is grateful to everyone who had a part in the ballot measure�s passage.

�I�d like to thank our citizens for their support of the police and fire departments in Jackson,� Hahs said.

Hahs also expressed gratitude for the citizens who helped in the education process prior to the election and a deep appreciation for the police and fire departments in Jackson.

The funds generated by the tax will mean improvements to public safety in Jackson, Hahs said.

Jackson Mayor Dwain Hahs, right, congratulates Jackson police chief James Humphreys, left, and fire chief Jason Mouser on Tuesday after they learned voters approved the city's public safety sales tax issue.Fred Lynch

�The way the tax works is, they�ll start collecting it in July, and it starts flowing to us towards the end of the year,� Hahs said.

The next step is to begin planning for the new police station, which, he said, will be as soon as possible.

Revenue from the tax will be combined with existing reserve funding to finance construction of a $7 million police station, rehab the existing public safety building now shared by the police and fire departments at an estimated cost of $1.5 million, add four to five new patrol officers, another school resource officer and a fire-department training officer, according to earlier reporting by the Southeast Missourian.

The new police station would be built behind the existing public safety building at 525 S. Hope St. in Jackson.

Fire chief Jason Mouser told the Southeast Missourian in February the measure�s passage would allow for separate bunks for male and female firefighters, allowing the department to hire female firefighters in the future.

In March, police chief James Humphreys said the police force, with 31 employees, was understaffed in a building too small to accommodate the people they already have.

Facilities are outdated and too small to adequately serve Jackson�s population of 15,000, nearly double the 7,800 people living there when the public safety building was built in 1981.

Mayor Hahs said Tuesday night city staff now will go out for requests for bids on the new building, which will be designed and constructed using the design-build method.

�Hopefully by fall we have our contractor designers picked, so they can hopefully start [construction] by the end of the year,� Hahs added.

Hahs released a statement following the measure�s passage Tuesday night.

�Keeping Jackson safe is our highest priority,� Hahs� statement read. �We�re proud to live in a community with residents who understand and support that priority, especially as our city continues its current trajectory of growth and improvement.�

�I�m very pleased with the result,� Hahs said to a group assembled at the Ground-A-Bout coffee house in Jackson on Tuesday night. �Our community survey said that the citizens wanted to keep Jackson safe. It was the No. 1 priority, and I think these votes show that.�

Following the mayor�s remarks, fire chief Mouser said, �Thanks to everybody. This is why I love serving this community, because of the support.�

Police chief Humphreys added, �I can�t stop smiling right now. A lot of hard work, but it just brings everything together, what this community is about. It�s a great location. We�ll still be there in the center of town. It�s for our future.�

Photographer Fred Lynch contributed to this story.

mniederkorn@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3630

Pertinent address:

525 S. Hope St., Jackson, Mo.

107 E. Adams St., Jackson, Mo.