South Sioux aims to add firefighters through sales tax vote [Video]

SOUTH SIOUX CITY — As South Sioux City’s population grows and the number of calls for emergency assistance climbs, city officials say the number of full-time firefighters the city employs needs to increase, too.

Voters will be asked this summer to approve a means to do that without increasing taxes.

In a July 9 special election, city residents will vote on whether to reallocate a portion of existing sales tax revenues now used for streets and infrastructure to the fire department. If approved, the fire department would receive approximately $330,000 annually, enough to pay and equip three firefighters, increasing the full-time force to 12. The measure would not increase the sales tax.

“We’ve got this great fire department, but don’t have the money to have it properly staffed,” mayor Rod Koch said. “Our goal is to not raise taxes, but you need firefighters, and the question is how do you …