The Pettis County Fire Department is hosting a series of town halls to meet with residents and discuss a tax levy proposal on the April Municipal Election ballot.

The department held its first town hall in Houstonia Tuesday evening. Pettis County Fire Chief Mike Harding says the goal of the town halls is to inform residents about the proposed 20 cent tax levy increase on the April election ballot. Pettis County voters soundly rejected a 48 cent levy increase last August, with the proposal only receiving 27 percent voter approval. Harding says the increase would be used help the department serve the county’s fire protection needs.

 

The department is hosting a second town hall at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 19th, at 107 Washington Street in Smithton. A third town hall will be held at the department’s Central Station located at 1608 Clarendon Road on Tuesday, March 24th. Harding encourages residents to attend and ask questions.

 

The Pettis County Fire Department operates nine stations throughout the county, serving more than 17,000 residents in its district. The General Municipal Election is set for Tuesday, April 7th, 2026.