Tuesday, April 3, is election day in the Ozarks. There are municipal elections as well as Ozarks Technical Community College board of trustees and a number of ballot initiatives, as well. Your Coalition for Building a Better Tomorrow, the official political action committee of the HBA of Greater Springfield, has contributed to several candidates in the region as well as the Committee to Keep Greene County Safe.
The HBA board endorsed Greene County’s Public Safety Initiative and the CBBT Board approved a contribution to the committee working to pass it.
Vote YES to keep Greene County Safe – know the facts:
- Since 2008, Greene County has cut its budget by more than 20 percent.
- During the same time period, violent crime in the county has increased by 26.3 percent in the cities and almost 50 percent outside of the cities.
- Even though Greene County’s population has grown by 32 percent since 1990, the County still has the same number of patrol deputies as in 1990.
- As a result, law enforcement in Greene County is desperately short-staffed.
- The Sheriff’s deputy response time today is 13 minutes and deputies cannot rely on quick backup when pursuing criminals.
- Sheriff’s detectives are forced to focus on violent crimes, while investigations of burglaries, vehicle break-ins and other property crimes are pushed back.
- A Citizen’s Safety and Justice Roundtable studied the Greene County/City of Springfield criminal justice and law enforcement system for 18 months, concluding that “our public safety and criminal justice system is overburdened and under-funded.” Greene County has implemented all of the group’s 2009 recommendations that did not require additional funding.
A YES vote means:
- A 1/8-cent sales tax will be devoted to critical public safety and law enforcement needs. The tax is timed to take effect just as another 1/8 cent county tax is expiring. This means that a yes vote will not make our taxes any higher than they are today.
- The addition of 18 new patrol deputies and six sheriff’s detectives, along with additional personnel in corrections, court security, the Prosecutor’s Office and the Juvenile Office.
- A reduction of at least 25 percent in the Greene County Sheriff’s patrol response times.
- Safer communities and neighborhoods for our families, homes and businesses.
The CBBT also approved contributions to the following municipal candidates:
- Chris Russell – Candidate for Nixa City Council, District 2 – for additional information, visit Russell’s website by clicking here.
- Jim Stewart – Candidate for Ozark Board of Aldermen, Ward 1 – for addition information, you can visit Stewart’s candidate Facebook page by clicking here.
To see what’s on the ballot in your county on April 3, click below:
- Greene County
- Christian County
- Webster County
- Taney County
- Barry County
- Dade County
- Dallas County
- Lawrence County
- Stone County
- Polk County