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Grandview firefighters, City clash over public safety sales tax

Posted at 10:19 PM, Jul 25, 2017
and last updated 2017-07-25 23:32:02-04

Dozens of firefighters, police officers and sheriff deputies walked into Grandview City Hall Tuesday night to ask the mayor and the board of alderman to place a public safety sales tax on an upcoming ballot.

But no action was taken by the city during Tuesday’s regular session. 

“The public, in my opinion, is being shorted. They are in danger too of not having enough firefighters to respond to calls,” said Bill Galvin, president of the IAFF Local 42. 

According to Galvin, the Grandview Fire Department is understaffed and losing firefighters to other stations that pay more. 

In less than three years, firefighters tell 41 Action News the department has lost 12 people— about a third of the department— most of whom have joined other departments. 

The union believes a public safety sales tax will help attract and retain these firefighters, as well as “improve public safety.” 

“We are not against the capital improvements, we want it to pass too. We want that equipment,” said Galvin. “These firefighters are concerned for their safety too. If they don’t have enough people to help them out, they are going to bigger departments.” 

Instead of a public safety sales tax, the city is pushing for citizens to renew its capital improvement sales tax. 

According to a city hand out, the money would help fix sidewalks, curbs, storm water drains, as well as new body cameras for police officers and new safety gear and vehicles for the fire department. 

But the fire union says that will not address public safety, including a shortage of staff. 

Grandview’s Mayor, Leonard Jones Jr, would not speak to 41 Action News about the capital improvement sales tax or the public safety sales tax. Instead, he said, “until we get through with negotiations, I’m not saying a word.” 

Two weeks ago, he did address the public safety sales tax on the city’s website.