CITY OF HENDERSON QUESTION NO. 1

Public Safety Question

Shall the City Council of the City of Henderson be authorized to levy an additional property tax rate for the purpose of improving police and fire protection within the City of Henderson by 24 cents per $100 of assessed valuation for a period of 30 years? Of the proposed 24 cents, 95 percent will be used for the hiring, training, and equipping of new police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and public safety staff and the operation and maintenance of police and firefighting facilities; and 5 percent will be used for the acquisition, construction, improvement and equipment of new police and firefighting facilities. The cost for the owner of a new $100,000 home is estimated to be $84 per year.

Yes 

No  

EXPLANATION

Under this proposal, the City of Henderson would levy a property tax of 24 cents per $100 of assessed valuation for 30 years. The purpose for the additional tax is to increase the City’s police and fire protection facilities and staffing. Of the 24 cents levied, 95 percent will be used for the hiring, training, and equipping of new police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and public safety support staff and for operating and maintaining police and firefighting facilities. The remaining 5 percent will be used for the acquisition, construction, improvement and equipment of new police and firefighting facilities, a portion of which may be financed with medium-term financing.

Based upon the projected revenues generated from this additional property tax rate, the City, over a seven-year period, intends to hire 237 public safety employees, 166 of whom would be sworn police officers, 30 firefighters and paramedics, and 41 public safety support staff, as well as to construct new facilities.

ARGUMENT FOR THE TAX

Police and fire protection are of vital importance to the residents and businesses of Henderson. Passage of the tax will enable the City to hire and train needed additional police, firefighters, paramedics and public safety support personnel and construct needed additional police and firefighting facilities, acquire necessary new equipment, and operate and maintain these facilities and equipment. This will allow for improved police, firefighting, and paramedic coverage in all areas of the City and reduce emergency personnel response times, improving protection for the residents and properties in the City.

ARGUMENT AGAINST THE TAX

Public safety is essential to the well being of the residents of Henderson. As such, any increases in revenue to add additional staff, improve the existing facilities, and build new facilities should be a budget priority for allocation of funds for these purposes from the existing tax revenues.

REBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT FOR THE TAX

Public safety is of significant importance to residents and businesses of the City of Henderson. If the City does need additional police and firefighting personnel and facilities, it should cut its budget elsewhere to enable it to increase the public safety budget, rather than increasing taxes, even if this may result in significant decreases in services by other general fund departments.

REBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT AGAINST THE TAX