BLOOMFIELD, Mo. --Voters in Bloomfield may soon be able to decide for themselves if they think their city needs a full-time fireman.
At the Monday night meeting of the Bloomfield Board of Aldermen, the board discussed the possibility of funding such a position and other fire department needs through a sales tax.
"At one time we had a full-time fireman and then we had a part time fireman," said Alderman Kim Johnson. "If the people want a full-time fireman, this is a way to make it happen in a way that is fully funded through a sales tax."
Mayor Donna Medlin stated that such taxes are quite common in other communities and can be used to help with fire department personnel and equipment.
"Advance and other cities have a fire tax," Medlin said. "They have the money to fund a firehouse and fireman. In Bloomfield, it comes out of your general tax."
In recent years, the City of Bloomfield has struggled to fund several sizeable expenses within the department and eventually voted to do away with having a paid firefighter on staff.
With the tax, the decision to have a full-time firefighter will be left in the hands of the citizens of Bloomfield.
Johnson pointed out in a telephone interview that by using a sales tax, people who live out of town but do their shopping in the city limits will also be helping to pay for the position.
"If the voters want it, then we'll have the money for it," Johnson said. "If the voters say no, then that would settle it."
While no amount has been determined for such a tax at this time, the hope is to be able to pay an employee, while at the same time work toward funding newer equipment.
Johnson said the goal would be to have the issue on the April 2014 ballot, which would require all necessary information to be submitted to County Clerk Joe Watson in December.
"Al of us are guilty of going to shop in Sikeston or Cape and not complaining when we pay their sales tax," said Alderman Pat Wilson. "We should be willing to do the same thing at home."
Before any action can be taken, the city attorney will have to draft ballot language that would then have to be approved by the board before going to the voters for final approval.
Mayor Donna Medlin said it took Puxico three times to pass their fire-related sales tax, but stated it should double their budget.
In Stoddard County, Dexter and Bernie have no such tax in place.
Advance placed a half-cent tax before voters in 2000 that was split between the park and fire departments.
Puxico's tax went into effect in October 2012. While it has yet to cover an entire budget cycle, city officials are projecting it will generate $30-35,000 per year.
"Let's put it to a vote of the people," Johnson said.
The next scheduled meeting of the Bloomfield Board of Aldermen will be on Monday, Oct. 14, 2013, at 6:30 p.m. in the basement of City Hall.