Public Safety Trust Fund II (PST II)

The Public Safety Trust Fund supports the Police and Fire departments as approved by voters.

Promised & Delivered Since 2014

The permanent half (1/8%) of the Fire Sales Tax receipts contributes to Public Safety salaries. The other half (1/8%) renewed in 2014 and will continue through 2035 is for public safety expenditures, such as employee protective equipment, computer equipment, vehicles, and facilities improvements.

Facilities & Vehicles – As promised in the 2014 renewal, the following facilities & vehicle projects were purchased through the Public Safety Trust Fund II. To provide our Public Safety departments with the necessary capital to fund these projects, the City borrowed $16,365,000 through a bond issuance. The bond proceeds, along with funding from other sources, made these projects possible.

Summary table showing City of Cape Girardeau facilities and vehicle projects, funding sources, total project costs, and annual police and fire debt payments.
Download the PDF Version

The bond debt service is an annual expenditure of the Public Safety Trust Fund II.

Photo of the PST II Debt Service table detailing annual police and fire bond debt payments, including principal, interest, and total amounts.
Photo of the Public Safety Trust Fund II (PST II) Statement of Activities, summarizing revenues, expenditures, debt service, and fund balance for the City of Cape Girardeau for fiscal years 2015–2025.
Download the PDF Version

$1+ million per year for ongoing Public Safety operations Permanent 1/8-cent tax

  • Provide competitive compensation adjustment for public safety personnel

  • Grant match for three firefighters

  • Emergency Communications Division (911)

$1+ million per year for Public Safety capital expenses

 

(2004-2014)

  • Fire Facilities: Relocated Fire Station 3 adding Communication (911) Center and Emergency Operations Center; renovations at Fire Station 1 and 4, replaced roof on Fire Station 2

  • Fire Apparatus: 3 new pumper fire trucks, 1 new ladder truck, 1 platform ladder truck was refurbished and later replaced with a used platform ladder truck, new 4×4 fire truck, 1 new rescue boat

  • Fire Equipment: replaced self-contained breathing apparatus, replaced jaws of life equipment

  • Renovations to the Police Department facility

  • Police Vehicles: replacement police cars

  • Replaced public safety communications equipment

  • Replaced public safety personal protective equipment

The following was the last item on the November 4, 2014 ballot:

PROPOSITION – Shall the City of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, extend the imposition of the City’s existing fire sales tax of one-eighth of one percent (1/8 of 1%) beyond its current expiration date for the purpose of providing revenues for the operation of the Cape Girardeau Municipal Fire Department? This one-eighth of one percent (1/8 of 1%) sales tax extension shall expire on December 31, 2035. YES [ ] NO [ ]

Keep Facilities & Vehicles Up-To-Date Plans for Fire Tax Funds & Public Safety Trust Fund, 2014-2035

The revenue generated from this 1/8-cent sales tax renewal is expected to be $1.2 million per year. The ballot asked voters to approve it for 21 years. Half of the funding will be used for facilities and the other half will be used to replace existing fire apparatus (fire trucks, SUVs) and police vehicles as needed, as shown below.

Vehicles and Apparatus ($600,000 per year)

Maintain public safety vehicle replacement within industry standards.

  • Replace Fire apparatus every 10-15 years as needed
  • Replace Police vehicles every 7-10 years as needed

Facilities ($600,000 per year)

  • Renovations to Fire Stations 1 and 2
  • Replace Fire Station 4
  • Contribute to replacement Police Station

Fire Tax Voter Education

Discussion at League of Women Voters Forum
Watch the fire tax segment now, online.

Presentation, Q&A for Fire Tax

Thank you to our corporate sponsors!