The City of Fayette expects to pursue the issuance of a new public safety tax to support Fayette police and fire departments. The city council has been discussing the matter for some time, and at its most recent meeting on Tuesday, April 6, indicated that it would put the tax before voters as soon as November.

The one-half of one percent sales tax is expected to generate up to $80,000 a year.

Like many small-town police departments across the nation, Fayette’s is underfunded. Officers in Fayette earn less than those in surrounding communities and the Howard County Sheriff’s deputies. The department is also in dire need of new police radios which must be upgraded according to state mandates. The fire department is also in need of a new pumper truck and needs to replace other aging equipment.

To pass the new tax the city will need more than just voter approval. Should the city place the measure on the ballot in November it will likely have to pay the full cost of holding the election since no other elections are currently planned for that time. It is estimated the cost could exceed $7,000. Should the city wait and hold the election in April of 2022, the price tag would likely be much lower since it would be splitting election costs with other municipalities and school boards. For example, the New Franklin school district held an election in November of 2019 for a levy increase. The measure was the only one on the ballot. That election cost the district $7,433.

“We should really look at whether the cost is worth the risk of not getting passed,” said outgoing Northwest Ward Alderman Pat Roll.

The city must also convince enough voters to not only bother showing up to the polls to vote on just one measure, but to cast ballots in favor of a new tax. To do this, the city plans to form a committee to champion the new tax. And time is short. The deadline to have the ballot information to the Howard County Clerk is August 24 in order to place the tax on the November ballot.

“I can say there is a need for more funding for the police and fire departments, but to pull this off and get a new tax on the people of Fayette, the chances are slim to none,” Roll said.

The city discussed putting into place an oversight board in the event the tax is passed to decide how the money generated will be spent.