BEEBE, Ark. — A battle between Beebe city officials and White County officials over money for the volunteer fire department may come down to how “volunteer” is defined.
According to the Daily Citizen, the city filed a lawsuit to get a portion of the 5 percent of tax revenue controlled by the county and marked for volunteer firefighting. Revenue from a 1-percent sales and use tax is distributed among 27 volunteer fire departments.
The city is suing 15 county officials for $44,400 in back pay and legal fees.
The county officials counter that because some Beebe city firefighters are paid, they do not qualify as volunteers.