Tax savings of Prop 2 questioned

Proponents of a proposed sales tax on the Aug. 7 ballot outline improvements planned for Jefferson City Fire Department in campaign literature. Click on the icons in the accompanying article to view the documents.
Proponents of a proposed sales tax on the Aug. 7 ballot outline improvements planned for Jefferson City Fire Department in campaign literature. Click on the icons in the accompanying article to view the documents.

Supporters of a Jefferson City Fire Department funding ballot issue have promised voters that passage will mean a 17 percent reduction in their property taxes.

What they haven't always specified is the drop applies only to the city's portion of the property tax. And they've never touted the overall property tax decrease: 1.7 percent.

In interviews with four members of Citizens for a Safer Community on Wednesday, they generally said they understand the distinction, and have explained it well to voters.

They stress it was never their intention to mislead voters. But some apparently were misled.

A campaign flyer line reads: "Property taxes reduced by 17% for city residents on home, business property and personal property."