Law Enforcement Tax Increase on April’s Ballot

Howell County’s Sheriff’s Office is asking voters to pass a sales tax increase this April. The one-quarter of 1% tax is projected to generate between $1.1 million and $1.4 million annually for the Sheriff’s Department if passed, said Howell County Sheriff Brent Campbell. 

“It’s an absolute necessity,” Sheriff Campbell said in an interview.

The language voters will see on April 5 is, “Shall the County of Howell impose an additional countywide sales tax of one-fourth of one percent (1/4 of 1%) for the period of ten (10) years from the date on which such tax is first imposed for the purpose of providing law enforcement services for the county?”

“It’s 25 cents for every $100 you spend,” Campbell said, “It’s buying a can of soda, and it’s not just the Howell County citizens. [The tax will be paid by] anyone who pays sales tax in the county.”

The ballot measure is not a permanent tax increase, but will sunset after ten years.

“If I’m not a good steward, this will waive off in ten years,” Sheriff Campbell told Howell County News.

 

 

Why a Tax Increase?

Campbell told Howell County News his department’s budget was “hamstrung from the get go.” Elected in August 2020, Campbell took office on January 1, 2021.

The last time the Sheriff's department budget increased beyond the ebb and flow of sales tax fluxuation was in April of 2000 when Howell County voters approved a one quarter of one cent tax. At the time, the Howell County Commission set the department's share of the county's general revenue fund at $880,000 per year, confirms Howell County Clerk Kelly Waggoner. Though Sheriff Campbell says his department's share of the general revenue was "frozen" at that time, Waggoner disagrees. The commission could divide the general revenue any way they choose in accordance with Missouri statutes. In 2000, the commission promised not to cut the funding the sheriff's department receives if the tax passed, Waggoner said. The tax did pass, and the department has received $880,000 from the general revenue every year since. 

The options remaining for additional funding are one last quarter-cent sales tax increase, or grant funding. RsMO 67.582 caps sales tax specifically earmarked for law enforcement at one-half of 1%.

“I have applied for millions of dollars in grant funding,” Campbell said, “The thing is with grants, you may or may not succeed…I’ve put in for numerous body camera grants. I’m always looking for innovative ways [to fill in the budget]. That will never stop, but it’s not consistent and not a guarantee.”

 

 

Personnel, Cars, and Cameras

In the interview, Sheriff Campbell talked about both the substantial day-to-day needs of his department, but also longer-term goals. With a budget increase of just over $1 million per year up for discussion, Campell said his priorities are patrol vehicles, personnel, and equipment upgrades. 

“The increase is to sustain what I’m trying to implement with salaries, better equipment,” Sheriff Campbell said. 

In 2020 and previous years, Sheriff’s deputies purchased their own uniforms, boots, duty gear and firearms. Since he took office, Campbell has changed that. 

Using what he called, “careful budget planning,” his office issued uniforms with insignia to deputies in 2021.

“I still don’t have coats,” he told Howell County News, “This year I hope to get duty gear and sidearms bought for them. I can accomplish a goal, but it has to be sustainable.”

The Sheriff’s Department has one functional body camera, Sheriff Campbell said. Their tasers are at the end of their life. The last time the department purchased a new car was in 2017, he said. 

 

 

Additional Personnel Desired

One of the midrange goals Campbell discussed was increasing his personnel numbers. 

The Sheriff’s Department covers 927 square miles with just one or two deputies on shift at a time. 

“It’s an issue,” Cambell said, “It’s a response time issue for the citizens. It’s an officer safety issue.”

Citing census numbers and figures from the FBI’s table 70, Campbell says his department is only 66% staffed. 

“I would like to get to 80%,” he said, “With population growth, you have to keep up with the times.”

Campbell says his department has several deputies and staff members who wear multiple hats, and he would like additional personnel in place to spread those responsibilities around. 

 

 

Facilities Require Updating 

Perhaps the most lofty goal Campbell has in mind is a modernization of his current office and jail facilities. 

“The facility is outdated,” he said, “I have one bathroom for a staff of 10 or 15 people.”

The Howell County Jail was modernized in 1997, Campbell said, and there are broken fixtures in the jail for which replacement parts are simply no longer available. 

 

“I think the citizens see the need and they know the need exists,” Cambell concluded, “God willing, I can educate in time to get this done in April.”