Dunklin Fire Protection District
Proposition S
What it is: 25-cent tax increase
Vote needed to pass: Simple majority.
What it will cost: The owner of a home valued at $150,000 by the Assessor’s Office would pay $71.25 more per year in real estate taxes. That homeowner now pays the district $188.13 a year in real estate taxes.
What it’s about: Chief Brad Williams said the increase is needed to help pay for day-to-day expenses and long-term maintenance, such as replacing aging firetrucks.
“With the economy the way it is, everybody is having a hard time making ends meet. We know that, but a fire district is no different,” he said. “We’re tax-supported. We don’t have a product that we can raise the price for and sell to the public. Our support comes from our taxpayers.
“Our last tax increase was in 2006. The cost of things has gone up for everyone, including the things we need to support a fire district. We were able to replace air packs, which we last bought in 2006 when taxes were increased and were a vital need, but by cutting other things in the budget.
“We have trucks that need to be replaced. Our firefighter turnout gear also needs to be replaced. When you notice your utility bills are going up, so are ours. It’s costing more money to fill up the tanks in our trucks.”
He said he believes if the tax increase is approved, the district won’t have to ask voters for another one for at least a decade.
Proposition P
What it is: 5.4-cent tax increase
Vote needed to pass: Simple majority.
What it will cost: The owner of a home valued at $150,000 by the Assessor’s Office would pay $15.39 more per year in real estate taxes.
What it’s about: Chief Brad Williams said the issue is needed to improve the pension plan and will bring the district up to the state standard of a 10-cent levy for pensions.
“We want to make sure our people will be taken care of when they retire,” Williams said.