Council and DA discussing safety tax

The Pueblo Police Department is understaffed and Police Chief Luis Velez says they struggle with their call load.

That’s why a half cent sales tax initiative is being worked on for the ballot in November.

The City Council wants to put road work and money for the Fire Department on the initiative, but District Attorney Jeff Chostner wants to concentrate on the need for police officers.

Chostner, City Council President Steve Nawrocki and City Manager Sam Azad have been working on coming up with a compromise.

“My priority is to be able to reach some kind of a compromise and have us work together because I think it has a much better chance of being successful,” said Nawrocki.

The ballot initiatives need to be filed by August if the city puts it on the ballot and September to the county clerk.