FAYETTEVILLE — Voters in rural fire districts approved five out of six initiatives seeking to place membership dues on property tax statements, according to Washington County’s unofficial results.
Elections wrapped up Tuesday night for the Lincoln Rural Fire Association, Morrow Volunteer Rural Fire Department, Prairie Grove-Farmington Rural Fire Association, Strickler Rural Fire Department, Tontitown Area Fire Department and the Whitehouse Volunteer Fire Department.
• The Lincoln fire association received 19 votes (73 percent) in favor and 7 votes (27 percent) against.
• The Morrow Fire Department received 52 votes (93 percent) in favor and 4 votes (7 percent) against.
• The Prairie Grove-Farmington association received 47 votes (65 percent) in favor and 25 votes (35 percent) against.
• The Strickler Fire Department received 31 votes (86 percent) in favor and 5 votes (14 percent) against.
• The Whitehouse Fire Department received 22 votes (67 percent) in favor and 11 votes (33 percent) against.
• The Tontitown Fire Department received 8 votes (24 percent) in favor and 26 votes (76 percent) against. Tontitown is the first fire department to see voters strike down the initiative in Washington County.
Tax Collector David Ruff said dues will appear on next year’s tax bill for property owners in the five districts.
Owners will be billed for their 2014 fire dues while the county collects property taxes for 2013, he said. State law requires counties in Arkansas to collect taxes assessed the prior year.
Property owners don’t have to pay dues. The revenue from those who do is a major source of money for the departments. Dues range annually from $25 to $200 depending on the fire district.
George Butler, county attorney, has said property owners who receive tax bills with fire district dues aren't required to pay the dues. Fire districts, however, could sue for the unpaid bill, he said.
All county fire departments respond to all nearby fires, said John Luther, director of the county’s Department of Emergency Management.
Property owners who don’t pay membership dues will be billed by the local fire district for the response.