St. Louis County voters will be asked April 4 to approve a sales tax hike to provide more money for police protection.
The County Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to place the proposal on next spring's ballot. It would impose a county-wide sales tax of one-half of one percent.
Officials estimate the tax would bring in $80 million a year. About $46 million would go to the county police department. The rest — $34 million — would be split among the county's 57 municipal police departments, based on population.
County Police Chief Jon Belmar said the added money would pay for more police and higher salaries, as well as for new equipment like body cameras.
