BELLEAIR BLUFFS — Voters overwhelmingly backed a proposal that will eliminate their fire department and put Largo in control of fire service for their city.
In Tuesday's election, more than 82 percent of Belleair Bluffs voters supported the proposal, which asked if the city should contract with a third party for fire service.
"That's a clear indication of what the residents want," Mayor Chris Arbutine said.
More than 34 percent of the city's registered voters participated in the all-mail ballot.
If the city kept its department, Belleair Bluffs leaders had predicted property taxes would climb and fire department services would be cut.
Largo has offered to provide annual fire service for about $244,200. And Belleair Bluffs plans to budget $60,000 more for incidental costs, Arbutine said.
Tuesday's referendum followed several tumultuous months for the city, which resulted in the termination of Belleair Bluffs Fire Chief Patrick Competelli.
Some who opposed the proposal are worried about losing the fire station in their city.
By late 2011 or early 2012, Largo plans to build a new station to replace a Largo station and the one in Belleair Bluffs.
"We need to keep the station open and we needed to find an opportunity to do that," said resident Carolyn Becker, who opposed the proposal.
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