El Paso County commissioners voted unanimously to send a renewal of the Public Safety Tax to voters in November. The tax, which was originally implemented in 2023, supports public safety infrastructure and operations, including the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPSO) staffing needs, body-worn cameras, prisoner transport and extraditions, and wildland firefighting equipment and personnel.
Public Safety Tax Renewal
The county says the funding directly supports almost 200 employees in the EPSO. The tax has already been extended before in 2018 to expire in 2029. According to officials, the fund generates around $40 million annually.
The measure will appear as Issue 1A on November’s ballot. The county’s population has grown around 18% since the Public Safety Tax first went into effect, and calls for emergency services have increased by over 30%.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
