Mixed massages
So you guys don’t want to fund new positions now?
In Columbia, Missouri, a letter that the executive director of the Columbia Police Officers Association sent to the chairwoman of the committee that is promoting the proposed public safety tax hike on the November ballot sparked confusion that nearly jeopardized the initiative.
Last Sept. 4, Karen Taylor of “Say Yes to Public Safety” emailed Dale Roberts, an attorney and the police association executive director, asking for a monetary donation from the group after “Say Yes to Public Safety” had received a donation from the Columbia Fire Department’s association. The proposed 30-cent property tax increase would be phased in over five years and fund the addition of about 30 police officers and 15 firefighters. Roberts previously had told Taylor the association would support the property tax proposal, and he had said as much publicly at a Columbia City Council meeting on Aug. 5. However, in a reply to Taylor’s email, Roberts wrote, “At this time, I cannot guarantee CPOA’s vocal support for the tax proposition much less financial support.”
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