Debate over 60/40 public safety tax split exposes long-term funding crunch for police and fire
Excelsior Springs City Council voted last month to shift the city’s Public Safety Sales Tax from an informal 50/50 split to 60% for fire and 40% for police, a move supporters said reflects the soaring cost of fire apparatus and critics warned would strain police operations. Beneath the percentages, city leaders agree on one point: public safety costs are rising faster than the tax meant to pay for them.



