Jonesboro Fire Fighters Protect Resources With Sales Tax Increase

September 10, 2010 – Twenty-seven Jonesboro, Arkansas, fire fighters dodged the budget chopping block, thanks to the political prowess of Jonesboro Local 3718. With 65 percent of the vote, Local 3718 helped pass a half cent sales tax to partially fund both fire and police departments.

Earlier this year, Jonesboro City Council members announced they were expecting a significant budget shortfall. Consequently, if cost-cutting or money-generating strategies were not implemented to offset the shortfall, as much as $1.4 million would be cut from the fire department budget alone.

“We knew that would mean layoffs, so we worked with the City Council on several different alternatives,” says Local 3718 President Paul Pittman. Had the $1.4 million been cut, 27 fire fighters would have been laid off, shutting down two ladder trucks, one rescue and one engine.

It was ultimately decided that a half cent sales tax with a four-year sunset would be the best option; however, the tax would need to go the voters for final approval.

Local 3718 quickly implemented a political action plan. “The two things that proved to be most effective for us were waving signs on street corners and developing an issue-based web site,” says Pittman.

By the time the sales tax went for a vote, the fire fighters had earned enough support to garner 65 percent of the vote. “Afterwards, we put ‘thank you’ in big letters onto our signs and stood on the same street corners to thank the public for their support,” says Pittman.
The sales tax is effective January 1, 2011.