In a stunning defeat, Joplin voters rejected Proposition Public Safety on Tuesday. KRPS’s Fred Fletcher-Fierro has more.

In Jasper and Newton counties, residents rejected the proposition, with 4,463 voting against it. While 3,586 voted in favor. The margin of defeat was 1,057 votes. The much-publicized plan would have increased property taxes in Joplin by 17% to pay for improved fire and police services. Joplin city officials estimated that the new tax would have established a new 9,000,000 dollar revenue stream to raise police and fire salaries by $10,000 starting this November, in addition to building a new fire department downtown. Earlier this year, council members Kate Spencer and Mark Farnham, in addition to Brian Evans, who did not win election to the city council, ran on a platform to improve law enforcement and fire services in Joplin and championed the Proposition Public Safety. Tuesday’s ballot measure is the second in the city to be rejected by voters this year after a plan to rehab Memorial Hall failed in April. Farnham and Spencer campaigned against that ballot measure. For 89 9 KRPS, I’m Fred Fletcher-Fierro