Police radios that will allow officers to communicate with a dispatcher from Lebanon Schools are one of the needs the city planned to address with a proposed 1/2 cent sales tax for public safety.
Lebanon voters will decide Nov. 5 if the city should have a Public safety sales tax 1/2 of one percent.
City officials say the tax is needed to pay for increasing law enforcement, fire and other public safety related expenses.
An open house was held last week at City Hall where city officials were available to discuss the tax proposal with members of the public. City officials also discussed the tax issue in a recent interview.
Lebanon Mayor Jared Carr said the tax would free up additional funds as well as provide more money for public safety. The tax is expected to bring in $1.7 million annually.
“Right now we have a strain on our general funds, 61 percent of that money goes to public safety,” Carr said. “In two or three years it will really be a huge problem for the community, to be able to provide the services we provide currently.”
He said police and fire are a major part of the city’s functions.
For more on this story see Saturday's print or e-Edition of the LCR.
