On Feb. 11, approximately 19,500 voters in unincorporated Benton County can vote on whether to establish an emergency services district covering all unincorporated areas except those covered by the Northeast Benton County Volunteer Fire Department.

A “for” vote creates the district and places an $85 fee on the real estate tax statements for each habitable structure. There is no “opt-out.” The fee must be paid before residents can pay their real estate taxes.

If a resident does not pay the fee, he cannot pay his real estate taxes. If you fail to pay real estate taxes, your house can be sold at auction.

Businesses in the district will not pay the fee, but disabled veterans must.

Vacant lands are not subject to the tax, but folks with “frozen” property taxes are.

Why are we voting in this special election?

There are eight ambulance providers in Benton County: Rogers, Bentonville, Springdale, Siloam Springs, Gravette, Bella Vista, Pea Ridge and NEBCO. A few years ago, certain cities (Rogers, Siloam Springs and Springdale) told the Benton County Quorum Court they wanted reimbursement for ambulance runs into unincorporated Benton County. In 2013, they carried this message to the Quorum Court: “Pay what we say, or we’ll take our ambulances away.”

On Sept. 30, the Quorum Court held a special meeting and passed the ordinance subject to this election.

After suspending the rules so the ordinance could be adopted in one meeting - rather than three meetings - it passed 9 to 6. The Quorum Court decided not to submit the ordinance to a public vote.

We believed those affected by this tax should vote. A petition for referendum sought to have the matter placed on the November 2014 election.

The petition received enough support to require the election, but the county judge called the election for Feb. 11 instead. (The whole goal being to add the fee to the 2014 tax statements.)

So we are here now with the choice of voting for or against establishment of an emergency service district with the $85 fee to be added to our real estate tax statements. There are reasons to vote against the measure:

The Quroum Court premised the drafting and passing of the ordinance on threats levied by three cities, like a bully on the playground who threatens to punch you in the nose if you don’t give up your lunch money. Should we bow to the bully? Should we succumb to their threats?

Folks in unincorporated Benton County already paya premium for ambulance service. For example, Rogers adds $375 to the cost of an ambulance transport over what it charges city residents.

Unincorporated (rural) folks receive no benefi t for the thousands of dollars they spend in the cities.

The $85 fee is not set in stone. It only takes eight Quorum Court votes to increase the tax. If your insurance pays 100 percent of the ambulance cost or you have Medicare/Medicaid, you still pay the $85 fee annually on your real estate taxes. There is no reduction in your ambulance bill foryour payment of the $85 (which is in addition to the fire dues you pay).

As an unincorporated Benton County voter, ask yourself: Should I bear 100 percent of the ambulance service cost provided in unincorporated Benton County? Have I really contributed nothing to city or county coffers? Do you think adding an $85 fee on your real estate tax statement is the only “solution” to obtaining ambulance services? Do you believe, as the Quorum Court has represented, the $85 will not increase for at least 10 years?

Some cities have said: “If the fee fails, we will refuse to send ambulances into unincorporated Benton County.” If they really mean what they say, they will have to refuse service to their own residents when they happen to be in unincorporated Benton County and need an ambulance.

For example, if the Rogers mayor is out on Beaver Lake and gets hit by a boat propeller blade and puts a big gash in his head, no ambulance would come help him (if we believe what certain cities have threatened).

The bottom line is this: If you don’t want to be bullied and you believe there are other options that have not been considered, vote “against” on Feb. 11.

THERESA POCKRUS IS AN ATTORNEY AND RURAL RESIDENT OF BENTON COUNTY WHO LED THE EFFORT TO PETITION FOR AN ELECTION ON THE AMBULANCE FEE.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS COLUMN WERE MADE BY PATSY VINSON, EMMA KROPP, MARY AND ARNOLD HARP, LINDA AND AL LEMKE, BOB AND SHARON INGLETT, AND KATHY AND ANDY ANDREASEN.

Opinion, Pages 11 on 02/02/2014