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County, city officials agree to share cost for two full‑time firefighters; vote on expansion would require referendum
Summary
Simpson County officials said the city has budgeted to equally share funding for two full‑time around‑the‑clock firefighters and two on‑call stipend positions; the city said adding more full‑time firefighters would require a public referendum. The court put the item on the joint Oct. 17 agenda.
County Judge/Executive Mason Bames reported Oct. 10 that he and Fire Rescue Chief Leslie Goodrum met last week with Mayor Larry Dixon, City Manager Kenton Powell and a city commissioner to discuss expanding the county’s fire staffing.
According to the meeting record, the city agreed and budgeted to equally share the cost for two full‑time, around‑the‑clock firefighters in addition to two on‑call stipend firefighters. The city told county officials it would consider funding more than those two full‑time positions only if a public referendum demonstrated voter support and a willingness to pay additional taxes or fees to cover the cost.
The fiscal court said the county would begin with the proposed increase in personnel as a starting point. The court scheduled the matter for further consideration at a joint city/county session set for noon Oct. 17 in the courtroom of the Simpson County Historic Courthouse.
The record identifies the city participants by name but does not specify the city government entity; the transcript lists Mayor Larry Dixon and City Manager Kenton Powell as having met with county officials. The joint meeting will provide the formal venue for any binding decision on staffing levels and funding arrangements.
