Richard Morehead, president of the Little Rock Firefighters Local 34, will launch the union’s campaign in support of the city’s proposed penny sales tax at a press conference at noon at the Central Fire Station.
The 3/8 cent tax for capital projects would produce an estimated $4 million for a new fire station in Southwest Little Rock and $800,000 for a West Little Rock station. The 5/8 cent tax for operations would produce nearly $4 million for hiring 36 new firefighters and keeping 18 positions now filled by stimulus money.
Since the taxes can be voted on separately, that means you could vote for new firefighters but not for a building to put them in. Alternatively, you could vote to build a fire station, but not hire the staff it needs to run. Vote for both, and the LRFD will get a total of $8.9 million to build and hire; another portion of the capital side of the sales tax would pay for new firetrucks. PRESS RELEASE ON JUMP.
UPDATE: More pro-tax revelry today. The Campaign for Little Rock’s Future will hold a rally for “young professionals” from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. tonight on the upper level of Juanita’s, 614 President Clinton. Mayor Stodola will introduce speaker Yana-Janell Scott.