Brighton City Council will consider at the Aug. 15 City Council meeting whether to approve a resolution placing a public safety sales tax on the ballot for the Nov. 7 election.  

The ballot measure would ask voters to approve a 0.15 percent sales tax increase, which would cost consumers 15 cents on a $100 purchase. This is anticipated to generate approximately $2 million annually, significantly impacting the City’s ability to provide public safety resources directly to the community. 

The increased tax revenues dedicated to public safety will significantly impact the City’s ability to provide public safety resources directly to the community. The City would be able to add up to 12 new positions in the Police Department, and examples of service enhancements that could be provided may include any of the following:

• Additional task force detectives to address specific crimes such as motor vehicle theft, sexual assault, and other felonies

• Additional patrol, traffic, and investigations officers

• The creation of an Impact Team that would be able to quickly respond to crime issues impacting the community.

“Keeping Brighton residents safe is of utmost importance,” City Manager Michael Martinez said. “Over the last 10 years, Brighton’s population has grown by over 20 percent and the demand for law enforcement services has greatly increased. The additional sales tax funds would create an annual, dedicated funding source in order to ensure our police department has the resources it needs now and into the future.”

The City of Brighton recently conducted a survey to gather community input regarding a potential sales tax increase to create a dedicated funding source for the City’s police department. Magellan Strategies, along with Brighton Police Chief Matthew Domenico, presented the results to the City Council at a Study Session meeting on May 23. 

Survey results found that the community supports the Brighton Police Department and 78 percent of respondents agree they are doing a good job. The survey results also showed 63 percent of respondents supported a sales tax increase ballot measure after learning the purpose is to create a dedicated funding source for the Brighton Police Department.

To view a full report of survey results, visit www.brightonco.gov/publicsafetysurveyresults.