ESD2 voters say ‘yes’ to sales tax measure

By John Dilmore
john@casscountynow.com

Despite some last-minute confusion about where votes would be cast, Emergency Services District 2 (ESD2) voters headed to the polls on Saturday to decide on a proposed sales and use tax to assist with equipment and facilities funding.
The proposal was for a sales and use tax of 0.25 percent (one-quarter percent) within the ESD2 territory.
The measure was approved, according to unofficial election results posted Saturday evening, with 72.84 percent of voters saying ‘yes’ and 27.16 percent voting against it. A total of 81 ballots were cast between early voting and election-day voting, which took place at the Cass County Voting Building on Rush Street in Linden. 
It was unclear to some voters in the run-up to the election whether they would be voting at polling places within the far-reaching ESD2 territory, or in Linden -- a situation ESD2 personnel scrambled to clear up in the week before election day through local media and their own Facebook page.
It’s anticipated that the sales and use tax will generate approximately $40,000 annually to help the department purchase new equipment, especially vehicles, and improve facilities. 
Aging fire engines -- which can cost as much as $500,000 each to replace -- are among the most pressing concerns identified by the district. Improvements are also needed at the district’s three stations, according to ESD2 officials, and the possibility of a new station in the area of Cass has also been discussed.
ESD2 is responsible for fire protection and medical first response in a 160-square-mile area in northeast Cass County.
The district has received most of its funding from property taxes and it was thought a small sales and use tax was a better route than trying to increase property tax.
The new tax does not impact the City of Domino, which is already at the maximum tax rate. Domino residents weren’t able to vote on the measure.