BENTON -- Scott County commissioners are surprised at the Sikeston City Council's decision to not support a countywide law enforcement sales tax.
County officials discussed the Sikeston City Council's decision during the regular County Commission meeting Tuesday.
"I understand the city thinks they need more money -- we all need more; we're all in the same situation. Money is an issue for everybody," said County Clerk Rita Milam. "As a budget officer I respect and understand what the city council and city manager are saying about budget issues because we fight it all the time here, too. But we're all residents of Scott County and by all of us working together hopefully we can make Scott County grow and make it as safe for our children as it can be."
Tim Porch, Scott City's mayor, has voiced his support of continuing Scott County's law enforcement sales tax, according to Presiding Commissioner Jamie Burger. He said excepting Sikeston's officials, city officials within the county have appeared to be supportive.
"We went all over the county to every city council to ask for their support and most agreed that support from Scott County law enforcement has been good," Burger said. "When law enforcement is enhanced in the county, it benefits everybody in the county and everybody that passes through."
"We understand Sikeston's needs, and I guess I would be the first one to get on the bandwagon and support their tax," Commissioner Dennis Ziegenhorn said. "The people have the final say on this with their vote."
While the city's economic growth may not have met officials' expectations, economic growth everywhere within the county depends on law enforcement, according to county officials.
"I don't know that's the way to attract businesses -- voting down a tax for law enforcement in the county," Burger said.
Milam said a sales tax is the fairest tax and brings in money from people who don't live in the county.
"It's not just a burden for the citizens of Scott County -- let the visitors help us," she said.
Burger said the contribution from each person through a half-cent sales tax is minute while the benefits are significant.
"We're talking about small amount of money per person," Burger said.
Unless an individual buys a car or house, Burger said he figures his or her contribution to law enforcement through the sales tax would be roughly $25 to $40 per year -- an amount he personally would be happy to pay to reduce the production of methamphetamine and keep meth dealers from selling to his children.
"I'd pay 10 times that amount to catch a dealer, to take some of those meth dealers off the street before it affects my family," Burger said. "Meth makers manufacture out in the county and they sell in the cities because that's where their money source is. If you eliminate just one of those guys, it's well worth it. If you think about your children and grandchildren, this is an investment in the future."
In asking voters for a continuation of the half-cent lawn enforcement sales tax, Scott County officials decided to not include a Sunset provision as the law enforcement expenses they are trying to meet with the tax's revenue are ongoing.
"Crime is here to stay," Milam said. "We can not put a number on when we think crime is going to go away because we live in the real world."
Freeing up additional money from the county's general revenue fund doesn't mean the tax revenue would go toward things other than law enforcement as the county's law enforcement fund is not solvent and would still require large transfers from general revenue even if the sales tax was approved.
The county's law enforcement fund is "always taking money from somewhere else," Milam. "This sales tax would be going toward law enforcement -- not for roads in the county."
Any money that is not transferred to the law enforcement fund from general revenue "should be in the general revenue fund to start with," Milam said.
As for city officials believing the city will receive little benefit from funding county law enforcement, Burger said state law enforcement benefits the counties in the state and county law enforcement benefits the cities in the county.
"I think every citizen in Scott County is benefiting from county law enforcement, one way or the other. It doesn't matter where you live, you live in Scott County," Milam agreed.
"Everybody sees the need to get the bad element off the street. To get the bad element off the street and keep them incarcerated takes money -- it doesn't come without a cost," Burger said.