The chairman of the Benton County Republican Party says he’ll continue to press the county’s elected leaders to discuss new ways to invest surplus taxes in public safety. Bill Berkman asked the county’s three Republican commissioners on Tuesday to consider the party’s plan to seek voter approval to add rural fire districts to other agencies eligible for a special sales tax to support law enforcement. But commissioners said the request caught them by surprise. They took no action but directed the county attorney to review the request for a future discussion. In 2014, Benton County voters approved a request to raise sales taxes by three-tenths of a percent. The request was made specifically to support law enforcement, with a focus on combating crime and gangs. Fire districts were excluded from requesting public safety money since they can submit their own bond and levy requests to voters. The tax has generated more revenue than anticipated, leading to much debate over the best way to spend the unexpected surplus.