Crime Control & Prevention District Election

April 8 Public Meeting: View Video   View Presentation

An election has been called for May 8, 2010 to renew North Richland Hills’ Crime Control & Prevention District and the half-cent sales tax that helps to fund local law enforcement services and programs.

The Crime Control & Prevention District was initially approved by North Richland Hills voters in 1996 for a 5-year period and it was renewed in 2001 for a 10-year period. State law now allows voters to extend the Crime Control & Prevention District for up to 20 years.

Since its inception in 1996, the Crime Control & Prevention District tax has been used by the Police Department to:

• Hire 27 additional police officers, 2 detectives, 18 support personnel and 1 school crossing guard;
• Instruct the D.A.R.E. Program at all NRH elementary schools;
• Provide school resource officers for the middle schools and high schools;
• Continue the Neighborhood Watch and other crime prevention programs;
• Establish new crime prevention programs including the Crime Free Multi Housing program, the “Lock, Take and Hide” program, and others;
• Purchase 30 police vehicles and refurbish 12 vehicles;
• Upgrade emergency radio and computer systems;
• Maintain competitive salaries for North Richland Hills police officers.

Since the Crime Control & Prevention District was created, calls for service have increased from 97,038 to 123,877 per year while response times to Priority 1 emergency calls have decreased from an average of 9 minutes and 42 seconds to 5 minutes and 18 seconds; in addition, there has been an increase in the percentage of crimes cleared each year.

North Richland Hills residents are not the only people who fund the Crime Control & Prevention District. People from other communities who patronize North Richland Hills stores and businesses also pay the Crime Control & Prevention District half-cent sales tax and help fund NRH law enforcement services and programs.

North Richland Hills residents can learn more about the Crime Control & Prevention District by attending one of the following public meetings:

• 7 p.m., Thursday, April 8, City Council Chambers, North Richland Hills City Hall, 7301 NE Loop 820
• 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 20, City Council Chambers, North Richland Hills City Hall, 7301 NE Loop 820