Some voters in Benton County are gathering signatures for a petition, saying they should have a say on an annual ambulance fee passed by county officials in September.
The Benton County Quorum Court voted 9 to 6 to pass an $85 annual fee to homes in unincorporated Benton County in order to pay for ambulance service. The fee would be added to the property taxes of those unincorporated households. Many of those people said they want the right to vote on the fee in an upcoming election, but officials said that could mess with the service.
“What we’re dealing with here is the possibility of that service being discontinued, and so it’s a very involved and difficult situation,” said Benton County Judge Bob Clinard. “I think it’ll work if they are successful in the petition drive, and we’ll decide from there how to fund it.”
It is unknown how many petition signatures have been gathered so far.