Times/News Corespondent

Crime has increased over 25 percent in Des Moines since several police officers were laid off in 2000, Police Chief Roger Baker observed last week.

The city lost revenue in the wake of tax-limitation ballot measures that were passed by voters statewide.

"Initiative 695 was when the voters took aim at the state legislature, but the end result was they hit the city right between the eyes," stated Mayor Bob Sheckler.

I-695, also known as the "$30 License Tab Fee Initiative," which was passed in 1999, reduced motor vehicle excise taxes (MVET) by an annual average of $142 per registered vehicle.

It raised the license tab fee to a flat $30 - up from $27.75.

I-695 and other successful statewide tax limitation initiatives have cost the city revenue since 1999, City Councilman Dan Sherman noted.

The decision of Washington voters "didn't reflect what the people of Des Moines wanted," he said.

Sheckler explained that when people voted for I-695, some did not associate MVET with local services.

However, the revenue that was generated from MVET was by city and county governments and health departments to fund a variety of local services, including law enforcement.

"The police department is the most expensive service in the city. It makes up over 50 percent of the budget," Sheckler added.

Therefore, over 20 percent of the staff level was decreased, including seven patrol officers and four community service officers, according to Baker.

Consequently, the chief said, part one crimes in Des Moines - felonies including rape, arson, robbery, burglary, aggravated assault and auto theft - have been on the rise.

To help reverse this trend, a proposal to generate additional revenue for the city is being redrafted.

It will be presented to the city council on Thursday, Sept. 8.

"The only way for the city to get money right now is through a [property tax] levy lid lift, which will be dedicated only for police services," declared Sheckler.

"If it passes, it will bring the police department back to 1999 [staffing] levels. This is the only way we can do it."

He emphasized that revenue from a lid lift would not add new officers, but would only replace those who were laid off earlier.

According to City Treasurer Paula Henderson, if approved, the proposal would raise the city's property tax levy from approximately $1.18 to $1.60 per $1,000 of assessed valuation in 2006.

For a home with an assessed valuation of $250,000, property taxes would increase by about $105 next year, Henderson noted.

If the city council agrees to place this proposed measure on November's general election ballot, voters will have the ultimate say on whether it is approved.

In 2004, voters rejected a proposal for a larger levy lid lift to help offset a $3 million revenue shortfall facing the city.

Councilwoman Maggie Steenrod said, however, that asking the public to decide would cost the city about $40,000.

This, she stated, is a lot of money, considering that she hasn't received all the answers she wants about police performance.

"If the measure is saying, 'Give the police department more police to be more efficient,' then how do we know the police that we do have are working at their maximum performance?" Steenrod asked.

She said that she would like to see a performance audit done on the police department first. therwise, taxpayers will be throwing money at a problem without telling them that [the police] are doing everything they can.

Steenrod also urged more upgrades in technology so data can be collected faster and crime solved by giving the police officers the city does have more clout.

On the other hand, Sherman said the decision to raise taxes should be up to the people.

"Clearly people want police services because they have expressed their concerns," he stated.

Sherman said he will vote for the measure if it is approved by the council.

The public has "come to the city council meetings in support of police services and inquired how to have new substations if we don't have enough [officers] to man them," he said.

"Over and over, people have voiced their concerns," said Baker, who noted that at a recent meeting around 18 people, representative of families and property owners, also spoke out about crime in Des Moines.

If the measure is approved, Sherman said, the public can be confident that their money will be there for police services.

Carrie Wood can be reached at newsdesk@robinsonnews.com, or at 206-444-4873.