The One-Cent Local Option Sales Tax Funds the Stations, Vehicles and Equipment Our First Responders Rely On
On any given day in Escambia County there are some 400 deputy sheriffs on duty patrolling our neighborhoods, streets and highways. Add to that number the Pensacola Police Department's 155 sworn officers and the more than 300 city-county fire and rescue professionals.
These highly trained men and women form the backbone of our community's public safety services.
And at no time are they more important, visible and appreciated than during a major disaster such as the recent hurricane that tore through our city, an event that called upon the services of all 900-plus public safety personnel.
Maintaining this level of public safety is a full-time job. And a very expensive one at that.
“LOST revenues have provided ECFR with the ability to make strategic capital investments that directly improve emergency response, disaster preparedness and service delivery across Escambia County.”
– Chief Adam Harrison, Escambia County Fire Rescue
A critical component necessary to maintain and enhance public safety is the revenues collected by the 1-cent Local Option Sales Tax.
This single penny tax, levied on most retail goods and services, generates some $63 million annually, with a significant portion – about a third – going toward public safety.
It's important to note that LOST dollars are legally restricted to capital investments—such as constructing fire stations, purchasing emergency vehicles, or building jail and court facilities. LOST dollars cannot be used to pay for routine day-to-day operational staffing or salaries.
Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons says LOST dollars are a vital and dependable component of public safety, not only for near-term projects, but also for planning and budgeting long-range investments in equipment and training facilities.
"Public safety doesn't begin when someone calls 911. It begins years earlier by making responsible investments in the people, equipment, and infrastructure that allow us to answer that call," says Simmons. Deputies are only as effective as the tools and training we provide them. LOST helps ensure they have both.
"This isn't about buying equipment. It's about ensuring that every deputy has what they need to protect every family in Escambia County," he adds.
Escambia Fire and Rescue Chief Adam Harrison says LOST revenues have had a significant and lasting impact on the operational readiness, infrastructure, and long-term sustainability of Escambia County Fire Rescue.
"LOST funding has allowed the department to modernize aging infrastructure, replace frontline apparatus, improve firefighter safety, and expand service capabilities to meet the growing public safety needs of our community," he says.
" LOST revenues have provided ECFR with the ability to make strategic capital investments that directly improve emergency response, disaster preparedness, and service delivery across Escambia County. These revenues have helped ensure that firefighters have reliable equipment, updated technology, and facilities capable of supporting modern fire-rescue operations" adds Harrison.
Continuation of this critical funding source will be on the November 3rd General Election ballot.
Please vote "for" renewing the local option sales tax to continue the high level of public safety services we've all come to rely on and appreciate.
Photos courtesy of Escambia County and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office.
