AVOCA, Ark. — Avoca Fire and Rescue dues will go from $50 to $175 after the increase passed in a close race during Tuesday's primary.
Residents in Avoca voted 263 for the increase and 259 against. The department hasn't seen an increase in dues since 2007.
"Having these dues, again, is going to really help when it comes time to aiding and assisting these families that come into the area," said Captain Kevin Holland with Avoca Fire and Rescue.
Holland said the department has over 30 volunteers. It takes over $25,000 just to outfit one firefighter.
The department said funds will be used to purchase necessary PPE equipment, increase staffing, and upgrading emergency equipment.
"It's going to help protect me, it's going to better help me with my response times and everything else getting to you and your family," Holland said. "It's really going back to you when you look at it. Because all this equipment is being used to help you. It's being used to help your family to keep you safe, to where you can go live out your lives and peace."
The Town of Avoca and Avoca Fire and Rescue are separate; however, the city gives money to the department through donations.
"The town does give them a donation every year to help them with shift work to help keep somebody on shift Monday through Saturday," said Nanette Barnes with the Town of Avoca. "We hope that it'll go seven days a week."
Barnes said that with the town growing, they'll need to support the fire department more.
"With the town growing, and our response area growing, that means more calls and more wear and tear on everything," Barnes said. "We've got two big subdivisions going in with a lot more houses, which means there'll be a lot more medical calls, fire calls."
Both Holland and Barnes said they were relieved with Tuesday's news.
"I couldn't express myself any more than just thank you," Holland said. "Those four people, you know, thank you."
"I could breathe again. Literally, I mean, the fire department needs the money," Barnes said. "I'll take the four votes. Whatever puts us over the top."
Both said they don't have a specific time frame for when residents will see this increase, but it's expected sometime in the near future.
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