Claremore Daily Progress

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July 22, 2008

Commission neutral on fire tax

By JOY HAMPTON



Rogers County Commissioners are fired up about what they say is a misrepresentation in a three-quarter-page ad running in the Daily Progress and other county papers. The ad, paid for by Rogers County Citizens for Responsible Government, states that “County Commissioners want to raise sales taxes in Rogers County by another quarter of a cent to finance rural fire departments.”

“We passed a resolution allowing the fire tax to be taken to the people,” said Board Chairman Dan DeLozier. “It’s up to the people of Rogers County to decide the issue, not me. I’m remaining neutral until I go into the box to vote.”

On May 27, commissioners approved a resolution to put a quarter-penny sales tax on the July 29 ballot. The proposed tax would support all fire departments within Rogers County. Rural fire districts were the primary proponents for the tax.

Nine fire departments joined to bring the tax question before the Board of County Commissioners.

Eight of those nine departments are rural. Catoosa Fire Chief Denus Benton said he does not speak for the city of Catoosa or its mayor, but as a fire chief he understands and supports the need for more funding for rural departments. Most of those fire districts are staffed totally or primarily by volunteers. Funding for rural districts comes from a variety of sources.

Claremore officials have taken a hardline stance against the tax.

City of Claremore Fire Department officials, City Manager Troy Powell and three City Council members attended the May 27 Board of County Commissioners meeting to voice opposition to the tax.

In approving the resolution to put the item on the ballot, commissioners said they believe in letting the populace decide whether it wants to pay additional sales tax in order to support Rogers County fire departments.

“I serve the entire district and I believe the people in the district should be able to decide this, not me,” said DeLozier at that meeting.

Commissioner Kirt Thacker echoed that sentiment.

“I don’t see how you can go wrong if you leave it to a vote of the people,” said Thacker.

Commissioner Mike Helm reminded Powell and others from Claremore that the people voted down a tax to support countywide ambulance service on a previous ballot.

None of the commissioners has made public statements for or against the tax.

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