Fire departments throughout Okmulgee County are going to benefit from a proposed sales tax increase voted on by county commissioners Monday.
Voters will see the request for a .00333 percent additional sales tax at a special election April 3.
If approved, that would increase the county sales tax to 1.25333 of every dollar.
Commissioners have designated 95 percent of the proposed sales tax to be divided evenly between Beggs, Beggs Rural, Dewar, Grayson, Henryetta, Liberty, Morris, Mounds, Nuyaka, Okmulgee, Plainview, Preston, Schulter, Twin Hills, and Wilson fire departments. The remaining five percent would be put in a fund overseen by a 15-member board composed of representatives from each of those departments. Commissioners said the idea is provide funds for the fire departments to help with equipment purchases, training, communications and improvements to the fire stations.
None of the money can be used for wages or salaries.
Commissioners said it would be a boost for the rural fire departments since most of their funds come from grants, subscriptions or fundraisers.