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Bluff commissioners relay Town Council talk of an emergency‑services tax and announce budget open house
Summary
Commissioners reported the Town Council is considering a property tax increase to fund combined fire and EMS services while the county is pursuing a separate 1% sales-tax proposal for EMS; a budget open house is scheduled for May 19, 6:00–7:30 p.m.
Commissioners heard an update about two concurrent proposals to help fund emergency services.
Chair Malia Collins summarized recent council discussion and a presentation by Jeremy Hogarth of EMS: the county is proposing a 1% sales tax specifically to fund EMS services, while the Town of Bluff is considering a property‑tax increase to support combined fire and EMS emergency services. Collins urged residents interested in details to watch the county meeting recording and noted the county sales-tax proposal will appear on the November ballot.
A town council member present (Jen) confirmed the county measure is a sales tax, not a transient-room-tax (TRT). Commissioners discussed the rationale: county presenters cited that roughly “40% of our EMS response calls are directly tourism related,” a figure used to justify a county sales-tax approach. Collins announced a public budget open house for May 19 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. where residents can ask questions about proposed budget changes and increases.
Next steps: commissioners and the public can attend the open house; the proposals will proceed through council and, for the county measure, the ballot process.
