A proposed funding agreement for Excelsior Springs Substance Abuse-Free Environments (SAFE) sparked debate over whether marijuana sales tax revenue should first support police and fire departments or community prevention efforts.

During a recent Excelsior Springs City Council meeting, the group voted 3-1 to approve a memorandum of understanding providing $122,000 from the city’s SB131 Tax Fund to SAFE. SB131 is a public safety sales tax fund which receives revenue from the local marijuana sales tax, allocating resources primarily to police and fire services. The agreement designates Excelsior Springs Hospital as SAFE’s fiscal agent and provides funding for substance abuse prevention programming and related coalition activities.

According to the memorandum of understanding, SAFE’s current primary funding source, the federal Drug-Free Communities grant, expires Sept. 30 and local marijuana sales tax funding would support continuation of its prevention efforts.

The approved budget allocates …