Lewisburg trying to pass fire fee onto rural district
Posted: Apr 22, 2015 6:41 PM EDT
By Lindsay Oliver, WVVA Multimedia Journalist
Map of Lewisburg fire district
LEWISBURG (WVVA) -
Lewisburg's city limits are four square miles, however the total fire district is 67 square miles. At Tuesday night's meeting, city council heard the first reading of an ordinance that would force the people outside the city within that district to start paying in.
"We receive nominal donations from people in the outlying areas, however within the four square miles within the city of Lewisburg, they're paying probably about 99.5% of the entire bill for the 67 square mile fire district," explains Fire Chief Wayne Pennington.
But those outlying people may soon have to start paying up under the proposed ordinance.
Mayor John Manchester says the city of Lewisburg has been looking at different options for how to fund the department for years. After a similar ordinance was upheld in the West Virginia Supreme Court, they decided this was their best option.
"It's very unusual for municipalities to establish rules that affect people who do not live in those corporate limits," admitted Manchester. "In this case, it's totally related to the providing of services of people who live outside there to make them pay their fair share."
Pennington says it will affect, "parts of Maxwelton, Caldwell, west of town on Route 60 out to Raders Valley Road."
Residential rates vary from $120 to $144 per year. Businesses would pay $0.14 per square foot.
Pennington says the monies generated will help a lot. "It will be about $370,000. That money will be utilized to maintain the equipment we have, aid in capitol outlay projects such as construction of a new station one." And over a few years, go from three paid firefighters to six.
Pennington says over the past few years, the fire department has helped the insurance rates go down a lot. He says they are just asking for a portion of the savings back so that rates could continue to decrease rather than revert back.
The next step is a public hearing, which will take place at the next city council meeting on May 19 at 7:30 p.m. From there the ordinance may be amended, rejected or passed on to the third and final reading.
The city council will have the final say on whether it passes.
Looks like it isn't just Pocahontas County in need of funds to keep the Fire Departments up and running!!
ReplyDeleteWhy won't the County enact a lawful tax, based constitutionally on assessment, if the fire service needs money? That way the amount you pay will be based in at least some way on ability to pay.
ReplyDelete