Any time the government is asking for a tax increase, it can be a difficult challenge to convince voters, said Warren County Sheriff Kevin Harrison.Which is why, he said, the sheriff’s department is overwhelmed by the support a half-cent sales tax proposal received from voters in the county last Tuesday, April 3. Proposition P passed with about 69 percent voter approval.“We’re very appreciative of the trust and support of the community. I don’t think we can say that enough,” Harrison commented.The new funding will be used to raise wages to reduce high turnover among county law enforcement officers, which has been an ongoing problem. Harrison also aims to add new positions. With increasing population and more violent crime, the sheriff said voters could see that thinly staffed law enforcement wasn’t going to be as effective as it was in the past.“People are concerned about their safety, they’re concerned about their property. They want to live in a safe community,” Harrison said.The effects of the sales tax won’t be felt overnight, he said. The tax won’t go into effect until this summer, adding one-half cent to every $1 of retail sales in Warren County. The date the tax takes effect is determined by the Missouri Department of Revenue, which collects and distributes all state and local sales taxes.Warren County Southern Commissioner Hubie Kluesner said the sales tax should take effect in July, and that the county would begin receiving the increased revenue in August.In Warrenton, the total of all citywide sales taxes will increase from 8.975 percent to 9.475 percent.Wright City’s total sales tax will rise from 7.975 percent to 8.475 percent.Once the new revenue starts coming in for the sheriff’s department, Harrison said he plans to request a budget change to increase pay for his staff. The budget change must be approved by the Warren County Commission.Patrol deputies currently earn a starting pay of $16.65 per hour. Starting pay for detention officers at the jail is $13 per hour.By the end of this year Harrison hopes to raise that pay by about $1 per hour, with another raise in 2019 to bring starting pay up to $18.50 for patrol deputies and $15 for jail officers.Offering more competitive wages will also help with recruitment for 18 new patrol and jail positions Harrison plans to eventually add to the department.“Because we’re such a big area geographically, (residents) may not notice one or two more deputies on patrol at a time, but I hope what they do notice is that when they call, there’s a somewhat shorter response time,” Harrison said.Residents might also see more frequent patrols in certain areas.One of the biggest concerns residents expressed prior to the Prop P vote, Harrison said, was making sure all the money raised is used exclusively for law enforcement, and that the county doesn’t remove other funding that currently goes to the sheriff’s department.The county’s annual budget is open for review by the public before being approved each year. Harrison commented that he expects the sheriff department’s budget to receive increased public scrutiny over the next few years.Warren County Sheriff's Department