NAVARRE NON-BINDING REFERENDUM

In a non-binding referendum that would have given pensions and state benefits to firefighters in Navarre, 56% of voters said “yes” to the referendum and 44% said “no,” but that was 4 percentage points short of the 60% threshold needed to take the bill to the next level. State Representative Jayer Williamson said had the non-binding referendum achieved 60%, he would have taken the measure to the State Legislature  to start the process of creating a special fire district for Navarre Beach Fire Rescue. The fire department is currently a private fire company, supported by a Municipal Service Benefit Unit paid for by the leaseholders on Navarre Beach. Becoming a special fire district would allow the firefighters to get a pension and would make the department eligible for state grants.

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