An Arizona tax increase could assist fire districts if Proposition 310 is passed
A small increase of the state's sales and use tax could go toward a Fire District Safety Fund for 20 years - 13 On Your Side's Vanessa Gongora reports
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - An increase of 0.1% of the state's sales tax could go toward a Fire District Safety Fund to assist fire districts in Arizona if Proposition 310 is passed.
Fire departments and fire districts are funded differently so this law will not benefit departments.
A fire department is typically tied to a city and the boundaries of that city and is funded by the taxes collected by that city.
A fire district is tied to several communities and unincorporated areas outside of these communities and is funded by property taxes from the area they serve.
The Martinez Lake Fire District is a Yuma County district that will benefit from this law.
Charly McMurdie, Martinez Lake Fire District Public Information Officer says, "When you look at the big picture of something that is so small like 0.1% fire district tax, we really need to say yes on this one. Any time you take a fire district down, you put more strain on the other fire departments whether they are city, county, private, it doesn’t matter," explains McMurdie. "Not only that, but you put a lot of stress on those that live in the area of that fire district. The residents of that district also deserve a fire system that’s going to be there in case they have an emergency. So taking down a fire district really affects not just a district but an entire system."
McMurdie adds there are multiple ways the Fire District of Martinez Lake can use the funds.
"The biggest reason would be manpower. This would help with staffing issues as well as provide life-saving equipment for them to use," continues McMurdie. "It would assist them with additional training."
One local Yuma resident, Justin Lawrence says he doesn't mind the tax increase if it goes to a good cause.
"I think it's a really good thing 'cause it's not that much. Doesn't really hurt us that much but it also goes to helping out the fire districts who really need the funds as well," says Lawrence.
If Prop 310 passes, the Fire District Safety Fund will be funded with an increase of 0.1% to the state's sales and use tax from January 2023 through December 2042, distributing money to fire districts on a monthly basis.
