At the end of the year, the Crime Control and Prevention District sales tax, which is 1/8 cent, will expire. However, on May 6, Southlake residents will vote on whether the tax should be continued for 20 years.

If approved, the sales tax, which began in April 1998, would be extended through 2038.

With the use of CCPD funds, Southlake Chief of Police James Brandon said the city was able to expand its School Resource Officer program from three to 11 in 2013.

With that expansion every Carroll ISD school received a SRO.

Brandon said if the CCPD is not reauthorized SRO funding will be eliminated.

“The Crime Control and Prevention District sales tax is the sole funding source for the expanded SRO Program,” he said. “If the reauthorization of the sales tax is not approved by voters, that funding source goes away. There is not currently an alternative in place to continue funding.”

Assistant City Manager Alison Ortowski said the expanded SRO program represents the majority of the CCPD budget for the current fiscal year.

“Over $700,000 is budgeted to support this program, representing 54 percent of the FY 2017 Crime Control and Prevention District Budget,” she said. “Additionally, over one-quarter of the budget funded the purchase of technology and equipment such as body worn cameras and radios and related radio infrastructure. The remainder of the budget funded facility maintenance items for [Department of Public Safety] Headquarters.”

If reauthorized, Brandon said he anticipates the funds would be used for equipment and technology needs for the police department along with funding the SRO program.