Pueblo City Council proposing sales tax

Gang violence and crime are on the rise in Pueblo, and some members of the City Council think it’s time to take action.

Pueblo County District Attorney Jeff Chostner approached the Councilabout a half-cent city tax that could be used to hire more police officers and prosecutors.

City Manager Sam Azad said with the opinions in the city right now the tax would be easier to pass.

“With that kind of money, depending on how it was split between police and fire, it would enable us to not only bring in new officers and equip those officers,” said Azad.

In 2014 a similar tax increase was introduced to the city, but the council did not approve it and 75 percent of voters turned it down.