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Push for safety tax gets under way |
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Tuesday, 06 October 2009 |
“First responders answer our calls daily ... it’s time for us to answer theirs.”
That’s the theme of the Benton Citizens Public Safety Committee’s campaign to raise support for a half-cent tax to benefit the city’s public safety departments — police, fire and communications.
The issue will be decided in a Nov. 10 special election.
Headed by David Mattingly, the committee officially launched its campaign Monday morning at the gazebo of the Saline County Courthouse.
The group, which is actually a subcommittee of the Benton City Council’s Health and Safety Committee, has been studying the city’s public safety needs and resources around two years. Though Benton has grown nearly 30 percent in the last decade, the demand for services has gone up by 65 percent and the police, fire and 911 communications department have not grown to keep up with these needs, the panel determined.
“Public safety is struggling,” Mattingly told those assembled for the event. “We’re at a point in history where we need to do something to make a statement for the future.”
The problem needs “fixing now,” Mattingly said, adding that if this doesn’t happen soon, he and his fellow committee members don’t see an answer.
Committee members resisted suggesting a sales tax as the answer, he stressed, but could determine no other way to address the problem.
“Calls are up significantly for both police and fire services and there is a certifiable need for increased funding to ensure the safety of every citizen,” Mattingly said.
On Nov. 10 voters will determine the future of these departments and their ability to provide services to residents, he noted.
“Our hope is that with your help, we will make a very positive statement for Benton,” he added.
In addition to Mattingly, three other committee members spoke at the gathering. This included Mary Kay Mooney, a lifetime Benton resident; Robert Edwards, a Louisiana native; and Don Birdsong, a retired lawman. All said they could live any place of their choosing, but all chose Benton as their home.
“The public sometimes forgets that public safety employees are people, too,” Birdsong said.
“While most of you are enjoying Christmas dinner and other holiday events with members of your family, these people are out patrolling and protecting property, leaving their families behind,” he said. “They go and serve.”
While others walk away from the sound of a bullet or the sound and sight of a fire, public safety employees walk toward the problem, he said.
“They take care of us every day,” Mooney said in reference to the public safety employees, “and now they need help from all the citizens.”
Edwards said he moved to this area when he was transferred to Little Rock because of his job. He had a choice of several Central Arkansas cities to call home and he and his family chose Benton.
Now that he’s retired, he could return to his Louisiana roots, but this is now home and he wants to help the people who daily are providing help to all the residents.
Several city officials attended the rally, including Police Chief Kirk Lane, Mayor Rick Holland and several aldermen. Also, several representatives of the public safety departments were present.
Committee members and a few others wore campaign shirts imprinted with the theme of the effort.
According to the tax proponents, if the issue is approved, the following things would be possible:
•Advanced life support could be reinstated by the fire department.
•A police substation that would be attached to a new fire station could be built in northeastern Benton in 2011.
•Twelve new firefighters could be hired in 2011-12.
•Fourteen new police officers could be hired between 2010 and 2014.
•Fire station No. 4 could be renovated.
•The city’s 911 communications operation could be moved to City Hall.
•An around-the-clock public safety office at City Hall could be established.
•Three 911 communications specialists could be hired.
•A contingency fund could be maintained for future capital improvements.
•A full-time public safety grant coordinator could be hired.
The tax initiative contains a sunset clause that would reduce the tax rate to a quarter-cent effective Jan. 1, 2021.
In addition to Mattingly, Mooney, Birdsong and Edwards, the committee included Carolyn Boone, Bill Hampton and Winifred Stamps. All but Stamps were present for the rally.
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