Brighton gets police sales tax update

City survey shows support for dedicated $2 million tax

Staff Report

A Brighton survey conducted at public meetings this spring seems to support a sales tax increase dedicated to the city’s Police Department, councilors were told May 23.

Councilors are considering asking voters this November if they’d support a tax – an increase in either sales taxes or property taxes – to help pay police department costs.

e city hosted a number of community meetings in April and May that gave the department a chance to pitch the idea to residents.

Residents were asked to complete a survey at the end of each meeting. Results are available on the city’s webpage, at www.brightonco.gov/ publicsafetysurveyresults.

Police Chief Matthew Domenico presented the results to the City Council at the May 23 meeting. It showed that 78% of people that took the survey rate the department as doing a good job.

e survey results showed that 63% would support a sales tax increase ballot measure for the Brigh- ton Police Department.

According to Domenico, the ballot measure would ask voters to approve a 0.15% sales tax increase, which would cost consumers 15 cents on a $100 purchase. The tax would begin in 2024 if voters agree in November.

It would generate roughly $2 million annually for police. Domenico said that would be enough to add up to 12 new positions. New positions could include task force detectives dedicated to addressing specific crimes such as motor vehicle theft, sexual assault, and other felonies. It would also let the department add additional patrol, traffic, and investigations officers and would let the city create an Impact Team that would be able to quickly respond to crime issues.

City Council will be giving direction to refer a ballot measure at an upcoming council meeting. Councilors would need to settle on a tax and ballot language by September to get it on the 2023 ballot.