(Lewisville) Voters in Lewisville will be asked to go to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 8 to determine the future of two proposed public safety districts and eighth-cent sales taxes to fund them. Early voting began Oct. 24.
The ballot asks voters to consider creating each district, and to adopt a one-eighth penny sales tax for each district. The districts and accompanying sales tax would be approved for five years, and could be extended by voters at that time for as much as 20 years.
“With the passage of this additional sales tax, we will be able to make a major investment in the enhancement of our public safety departments,” said Assistant City Manager Donna Barron. “A one-eighth penny sales tax for each district is estimated to generate $2.3 million annually for the Crime Control District and another $2.3 million for the Fire Control District.”
Lewisville currently has a total sales tax rate of 8 percent, including 6.25 cents for the state, one cent for the city budget, a half-cent for Denton County Transportation Agency and a quarter-cent for parks. If approved, the two new districts would raise the total rate to 8.25 percent, the same as is currently assessed in most comparable North Texas cities.
The temporary board of the two districts considered a number of public safety programs, developing a detailed plan for both agencies. While state law only requires the board to adopt a plan for the first two years’ worth of projects, the board instead considered a complete five-year plan.
Board Chairman Steve Griffin said he “feels fortunate to have had this opportunity to review the inner workings of the fire and police departments and to help decide where this sales tax money can be best spent to make Lewisville one of the safest cities in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area.”
The same members serve on both the Temporary Crime Control Board and the Temporary Fire Control Board. In addition to Griffin, members include residents Alvin Turner, Mike Pedigo, Jeff Pelletier, Mark Payne, Ken Judkins and Avie Raburn. Permanent boards to oversee each district will be appointed by City Council if the election passes.
If the sales tax election is passed in November, a number of public safety improvements will be made in the first two years to include adding 10 patrol officers; expanding the Special Operations Unit, Street Crimes Unit and Narcotics Unit; adding staff personnel to create a tactical dispatch program; and improving supervision and control of the city jail. Neighborhood enhancement also will be a focus with the addition of code enforcement officers and building inspectors.
“The appearance of neighborhoods can have a major impact on the crime rate,” said Police Chief Russ Kerbow. “Under this ‘broken window’ concept, declining neighborhoods where properties are not kept in compliance with basic codes – such as high grass and weeds – tend to have increased criminal activity.”
On the Fire Department side, a fifth front-line ambulance will be added and housed at Fire Station 6, 2120 Midway Road, along with additional paramedics needed to operate the ambulance. Other improvements after the first two years of the plan include a second ladder truck, expansion of Fire Station 6 to accommodate the second ladder truck, and the addition of Fire Station 8 on the city’s east side along with 18 firefighters to operate the new station.
“The addition of fire stations and personnel is based on call volume and property build-out. The east side of our city has seen high levels of growth and will continue to do so. The addition of equipment, personnel and a station on the east side will help keep our citywide response times at the high level of service our residents have come to expect,” said Fire Chief Rick Lasky.
Early voting will be held jointly with Denton County at the Lewisville Municipal Annex, 1197 W. Main Street, or Denton County Elections Office, 401 W. Hickory, Suite 125, in Denton. Early voting schedule is: Oct. 24-29, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Oct. 31-Nov. 2, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Nov. 3-4, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Election Day voting will be held at five locations in Lewisville based on voter precinct. Hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Submitted by James Kunke, City of Lewisville.
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