Proposed sales tax to help Baldwin police, fire departments will be on the Dec. 7 ballots

ST. MARY PARISH, La. (KLFY) -- Baldwin police and fire departments are proposing a 1% sales tax in the Dec. 7 congressional election.

Both Baldwin Fire Chief Rickey Cook and Police Chief Anthony Gibson said a "yes" vote is a "yes" vote for public safety. The proposed tax is projected to raise around $180,000 annually.

Gibson said the funds will be used to help with everything from salaries to equipment, to expansion for the police department.

"[It is for] the police station, for the police units, training for our officers, [and] salaries for our officers. This tax will give us the chance to higher two more police officers," he said.

The tax would help the fire departments abilities in the same way.

Cook said they are limited on volunteers and this tax can help attract more. He talked about additional upgrades to their fire trucks to make sure they have all the necessary needs to protect the community.

"We have about 18 categories in our rating property insurance rating comes every five years and every truck has to have a certain amount of equipment on it, fire hose. And we have to keep up with that. You know, the rating training, all that stuff falls into that," Cook said.

Gibson and Cook encourage people to vote yes on Dec. 7 to help both departments improve and serve Baldwin to the best of their abilities.

"Both fire and police, it's going to help everything. It's just it's an overall plus for the whole category," Cook said.

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