Arkansas City Suing County Over Fire Tax Revenue

An Arkansas city is suing a county claiming the county wrongfully withheld tax revenue that should have been provided to its volunteer fire department.

The City of Beebe filed suit against 15 White County officials claiming they are responsible for wrongfully withholding revenue that should have allocated for the Beebe Fire Department. The funds in questions are collected by the county and given to volunteer fire departments. According to AP reports, the revenues are given to 27 other fire departments in White County.

County officials are claiming that the Beebe Fire Department has paid firefighters and therefore does not qualify as a volunteer fire department. Beebe officials claims they are owed over $44,000 in back payments, plus attorneys fees.

Here is more on the story.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
x

Check Also

Family Of Man Struck By Chief’s Vehicle Sues

The family of a man who was run over and dragged by a Georgia battalion chief at the scene of a shooting is suing the city for their emotional harm. Germayne Farrell was shot and killed in a shootout between rival motorcycle clubs, the Outcasts and Thug Riders.

UK Parliament Questions Fire Service Leader on Institutional Racism Claim

As have many fire departments in the UK and Canada recently, the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority has been in the news relative to allegations of institutional racism and sexism. However, when questioned by Lee Anderson, a member of parliament, the chair of the Authority, Rebecca Knox, was unable to answer some relatively simple questions about the decision to label her organization “institutionally racist.”