About 20 Columbia residents attended a community meeting Wednesday to discuss the proposed 1% public safety sales tax ahead of the Aug. 4 election.
Proposition 1 would fund additional police and fire personnel, along with facility, equipment and operational improvements.
Police Chief Jill Schlude became emotional as she described staffing shortages and the overtime officers are working, saying the tax would improve both public safety and officers’ quality of life.
Some attendees, however, questioned the city’s transparency, and resident Richard Cotten said he does not support the proposal.