In June of 2004 the voters of Cape Girardeau passed a 1/4 cent sales tax by an overwhelming majority of 82%. It is estimated that the tax will generate approximately $22 million in revenue over ten years for the purchase of Public Safety vehicles, operating equipment, facility needs and personnel imporvements. 

The police department has benefited from the tax funding by purchasing 41 new patrol cars that would replace older, high mileage vehicles - the average mileage of the vehicles replaced was 110,000 miles.  In addition to the new patrol cars, the police department was also able to boost officers’ equipment.  The department added Tasers, SWAT team equipment and both mobile and portable radios as well. These expenditures are being tracked through the Public Safety Trust Fund. Click here to view expenditures that have been made from this fund by the Police Department.

Details of the program and imporvements in the police and fire areas are available below:

0907_Public_Safety_Overview.pdf