COLUMBIA, Missouri (KMIZ)

Columbia voters on Tuesday approved maintaining the capital improvement sales tax at a quarter of one percent.

The approval extends the sales tax for another 10 years. The current sales tax expires on December 31, 2025.

According to the City of Columbia website, $94,350,000 will be allocated for public works projects, $15,450,000 for the Columbia Fire Department, and $16 million for the Columbia Police Department, for a total of over $125 million.

John Ogan, spokesman for Columbia Public Works, said his department is already working on a schedule for new projects, but more projects from the original 10-year period still need to be completed.

“Projects coming up this year include sidewalks on Scott (Boulevard) and Broadway and Nifong (Boulevard), as well as improvements on Ash Street next year and major maintenance on Garth (Avenue) next year, and then the expansion and improvements of the Forum the following year,” Ogan said.

Columbia Police Chief Jill Schlude previously told ABC 17 her department would use the funds to complete the second floor of the Molly Thomas Bowden Neighborhood Policing Center, add additional evidence storage space and remodel the downtown headquarters.

She said the department’s long-term plan is to eventually build a station on the south side of town. Schlude also said she would like to set up kiosks with resource information for the public.

Katherine Rodriguez, a spokeswoman for the Columbia Fire Department, said the funds would help the CFD complete a new fire station and purchase new fire trucks.

“We’re very excited about our Station 10 and we also have eight more fire engines that we’re looking to purchase over the next 10 years, so we’re very excited to get those up and running,” Rodriguez said.

Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe said the funding is important to protecting and maintaining Columbia’s current and future infrastructure.

“So we’re trying to think about how we can secure our share, meet future needs, while maintaining and improving what we already have,” Buffaloe said.

The term of the renewed VAT begins in January 2026.