Purchases in Independence will be subject to an additional one-fourth cent sales tax to go toward the city’s police department.
The proposal was approved by 61% of Tuesday’s voters in the primary.
The tax is expected to bring in about $5.47 million annually and would remain in effect until repealed by voters.
City officials said the tax is necessary to increase wages for police officers and stay competitive with area agencies, including the Kansas City Police Department, which recently adopted a new wage scale that hiked pay.
Independence Police Chief Adam Dustman said in a statement Tuesday night that he was “deeply grateful to the voters who supported Prop PD.”
“We have seen the effect raising salaries has on our ability to hire new officers already. But it also improved our ability to retain our existing officers. Morale jumped when Prop PD was announced in May, and I can already feel it on our ranks again tonight.”
During a special meeting in May, Independence City Manager Zach Walker told the City Council that at the current level over 20 years, an Independence police officer would make $579,000 less than a Kansas City officer.
Entry level officers with KCPD make $65,000. Under the new proposal if voters approve the tax, Independence pay would increase to $62,000.
Officials said the boost will help recruit new officers and retain current employees.
The Independence Police Department has 230 sworn positions. Of those, 38 are vacant. The department would have to move officers away from specialized units like tactics and criminal investigations to patrol if 10 to 12 more officers left the department, Walker said.
He pointed out that there were other funding options, such as the city’s $930,000 in American Rescue Plan Act money that has to be spent by the end of the year. But Walker said using that money is a one-time solution, while the sales tax is a permanent solution.
The city already has a one-eighth cent sales tax for police department capital improvements that is set to expire in 2028. Tax revenue from marijuana sales is dedicated to a redesign of the city’s Justice Center.