An unusual situation has arisen in the case of Proposition 2: both sides agree the city dropped the ball in funding the Jefferson City Fire Department. But how to fix that problem is where the two sides split.
Proposition 2 would eliminate a 9.61-cent contribution to the Fireman's Pension Fund and replace the funding mechanism with a dedicated one-fourth cent sales tax for the Fire Department that would sunset in 15 years.
Jefferson City resident Dennis Morrissey has been a vocal opponent of the tax proposal, saying people outside the city already contribute to public safety funding through both the city's general sales tax and its capital improvements sales tax.
"Both of those are used to fund the fire department," Morrissey said. "Do we need three taxes to fund the fire department?"
Morrissey said there also is no guarantee the city wouldn't raise the property tax levy once given the opportunity. But supporters say the department is being unfairly punished for people's mistrust in the City Council.