Fire Millage Increase Coming

[Foxmeister]

I was reading in the "Paulding Neighbor" where the BoC will be voting on the next budget that contains an increase of the fire millage as the fire tax is falling short to support fire and rescue in our county. The current millage rate for fire and rescue is 2 mills. Matthew Chambers, chairman for the Paulding County Fire Advisory Board proposed to increase it to 3.1 mills. BoC Chairman Austin proposed a rollback of 2.2 mills. Graham stated increasing the millage rate to 3.1 mills would restore fire department funding levels to what it was when the fire tax was created in 2008.

One of the few things I liked while I was living in Michigan was, the BoC did not have the authority to raise millage rates. Proposed increases had to go on a ballot for county residents to vote on. It worked the same for school millage rates as well.

 

[unionmom]

Anybody else have vague recollections that this fire tax was supposed to supplement the fire budget, not fully fund it?

 

[Foxmeister]

Originally, the current 2 mill rate was to fund it, but they created the fire tax because of less property taxes being collected due to decreased property values and foreclosures. The fire tax was created to make up that shortfall. Since the passing of the fire tax, property values have continued to decline and the collected revenue has dropped below 2008 levels.

They need to study ways to reduce their operational costs. A good start would be to quit driving the fire trucks to grocery stores to purchase food for the fire station. I don't see why they can't drive something that uses a lot less fuel for that. Does anyone know who pays for those groceries? If it's coming out of the fire budget, then they need to eliminate that expense as well.

 

[lotstodo]

Originally, the current 2 mill rate was to fund it, but they created the fire tax because of less property taxes being collected due to decreased property values and foreclosures. The fire tax was created to make up that shortfall. Since the passing of the fire tax, property values have continued to decline and the collected revenue has dropped below 2008 levels.

They need to study ways to reduce their operational costs. A good start would be to quit driving the fire trucks to grocery stores to purchase food for the fire station. I don't see why they can't drive something that uses a lot less fuel for that. Does anyone know who pays for those groceries? If it's coming out of the fire budget, then they need to eliminate that expense as well.

A fire station/crew is not out of service to go to the grocery store. If one goes, they all go, and their apparatus goes, so they can be immediately dispatched.

 

[unionmom]

Originally, the current 2 mill rate was to fund it, but they created the fire tax because of less property taxes being collected due to decreased property values and foreclosures. The fire tax was created to make up that shortfall. Since the passing of the fire tax, property values have continued to decline and the collected revenue has dropped below 2008 levels.

They need to study ways to reduce their operational costs. A good start would be to quit driving the fire trucks to grocery stores to purchase food for the fire station. I don't see why they can't drive something that uses a lot less fuel for that. Does anyone know who pays for those groceries? If it's coming out of the fire budget, then they need to eliminate that expense as well.

A fire station/crew is not out of service to go to the grocery store. If one goes, they all go, and their apparatus goes, so they can be immediately dispatched.

Exactly ... they dispatch from wherever they are, whatever they are doing.

 

[LisaC]

They can bump the mill rate up to an even 4 if it's all going to the fire dept. (or to LEO). Those folks protect our homes and our county and need to have the best equipment and manpower available.

 

[lotstodo]

They can bump the mill rate up to an even 4 if it's all going to the fire dept. (or to LEO). Those folks protect our homes and our county and need to have the best equipment and manpower available.

This was the logic behind the fire tax in the first place. What actually happened was that the county dropped their FD budget from the general fund by the amount of revenue generated by the fire tax. In other words, no additional money went to the FD. It just freed up general funds to be used elsewhere as the commission saw fit. it was nothing but a tax increase. It might as well have been a millage rate increase that went into the general fund, because that's where the extra money wound up.

 

[Foxmeister]

They can bump the mill rate up to an even 4 if it's all going to the fire dept. (or to LEO). Those folks protect our homes and our county and need to have the best equipment and manpower available.

This was the logic behind the fire tax in the first place. What actually happened was that the county dropped their FD budget from the general fund by the amount of revenue generated by the fire tax. In other words, no additional money went to the FD. It just freed up general funds to be used elsewhere as the commission saw fit. it was nothing but a tax increase. It might as well have been a millage rate increase that went into the general fund, because that's where the extra money wound up.

Exactly. We were deceived.

 

[Foxmeister]

Originally, the current 2 mill rate was to fund it, but they created the fire tax because of less property taxes being collected due to decreased property values and foreclosures. The fire tax was created to make up that shortfall. Since the passing of the fire tax, property values have continued to decline and the collected revenue has dropped below 2008 levels.

They need to study ways to reduce their operational costs. A good start would be to quit driving the fire trucks to grocery stores to purchase food for the fire station. I don't see why they can't drive something that uses a lot less fuel for that. Does anyone know who pays for those groceries? If it's coming out of the fire budget, then they need to eliminate that expense as well.

A fire station/crew is not out of service to go to the grocery store. If one goes, they all go, and their apparatus goes, so they can be immediately dispatched.

I understand that, but my point is why can't they just bring in their own food from home; or take turns doing the shopping for the fire station on their way into work?

 

[unionmom]

I understand that, but my point is why can't they just bring in their own food from home; or take turns doing the shopping for the fire station on their way into work?

They are stuck there for 24 hours at a time. I'm ok with them going out for groceries.

 

[LisaC]

Originally, the current 2 mill rate was to fund it, but they created the fire tax because of less property taxes being collected due to decreased property values and foreclosures. The fire tax was created to make up that shortfall. Since the passing of the fire tax, property values have continued to decline and the collected revenue has dropped below 2008 levels.

They need to study ways to reduce their operational costs. A good start would be to quit driving the fire trucks to grocery stores to purchase food for the fire station. I don't see why they can't drive something that uses a lot less fuel for that. Does anyone know who pays for those groceries? If it's coming out of the fire budget, then they need to eliminate that expense as well.

A fire station/crew is not out of service to go to the grocery store. If one goes, they all go, and their apparatus goes, so they can be immediately dispatched.

I understand that, but my point is why can't they just bring in their own food from home; or take turns doing the shopping for the fire station on their way into work?

Cuz if I see them in the grocery store with their uniforms on, I'm more likely to pay for their dinner if I end up in line behind them.... ;D

 

[unionmom]

They can bump the mill rate up to an even 4 if it's all going to the fire dept. (or to LEO). Those folks protect our homes and our county and need to have the best equipment and manpower available.

This was the logic behind the fire tax in the first place. What actually happened was that the county dropped their FD budget from the general fund by the amount of revenue generated by the fire tax. In other words, no additional money went to the FD. It just freed up general funds to be used elsewhere as the commission saw fit. it was nothing but a tax increase. It might as well have been a millage rate increase that went into the general fund, because that's where the extra money wound up.

This is what I was getting at with my earlier post. We were led to believe that the extra money would be extra money to the FD ... not the only money to the FD.

 

[LisaC]

They can bump the mill rate up to an even 4 if it's all going to the fire dept. (or to LEO). Those folks protect our homes and our county and need to have the best equipment and manpower available.

This was the logic behind the fire tax in the first place. What actually happened was that the county dropped their FD budget from the general fund by the amount of revenue generated by the fire tax. In other words, no additional money went to the FD. It just freed up general funds to be used elsewhere as the commission saw fit. it was nothing but a tax increase. It might as well have been a millage rate increase that went into the general fund, because that's where the extra money wound up.

This is what I was getting at with my earlier post. We were led to believe that the extra money would be extra money to the FD ... not the only money to the FD.

But what I'm saying is that if they want to increase the mill rate so that the Fire Dept. is fully funded by that tax, then DO IT! I'll gladly support paying more taxes to make sure that our fire and LEO are taken care of. Heck, put enough in there to give them a raise, they definitely deserve it.

As much as I hate paying taxes, I'll pay through the nose for our public safety depts. - they deserve it!

 

[unionmom]

But what I'm saying is that if they want to increase the mill rate so that the Fire Dept. is fully funded by that tax, then DO IT! I'll gladly support paying more taxes to make sure that our fire and LEO are taken care of. Heck, put enough in there to give them a raise, they definitely deserve it.

As much as I hate paying taxes, I'll pay through the nose for our public safety depts. - they deserve it!

As long as they (elected officials) are honest about it I think that most citizens would agree. When they are dishonest, they burn bridges with the citizens.

 

[LisaC]

But what I'm saying is that if they want to increase the mill rate so that the Fire Dept. is fully funded by that tax, then DO IT! I'll gladly support paying more taxes to make sure that our fire and LEO are taken care of. Heck, put enough in there to give them a raise, they definitely deserve it.

As much as I hate paying taxes, I'll pay through the nose for our public safety depts. - they deserve it!

As long as they (elected officials) are honest about it I think that most citizens would agree. When they are dishonest, they burn bridges with the citizens.

Exactly!!

 

[Foxmeister]

I think the BoC owes it to us taxpayers to look at ways of reducing wasteful spending before they even begin to think about raising our property taxes. They plan to raise the fire millage by 1.3 mills. Once it's set and property values begin to rise in the future, do you honestly think they will reduce it back down to 2 mills? Look at how we were deceived about the fire tax.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I oppose this proposed millage increase.

 

[newsjunky]

I think the BoC owes it to us taxpayers to look at ways of reducing wasteful spending before they even begin to think about raising our property taxes. They plan to raise the fire millage by 1.3 mills. Once it's set and property values begin to rise in the future, do you honestly think they will reduce it back down to 2 mills? Look at how we were deceived about the fire tax.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I oppose this proposed millage increase.

Tommy Graham has lost my vote but this was just icing on the cake.

 

[mei lan]

Anybody else have vague recollections that this fire tax was supposed to supplement the fire budget, not fully fund it?

Not vague at all. My recollections are plumb clear. :BH

 

[mei lan]

I think the BoC owes it to us taxpayers to look at ways of reducing wasteful spending before they even begin to think about raising our property taxes. They plan to raise the fire millage by 1.3 mills. Once it's set and property values begin to rise in the future, do you honestly think they will reduce it back down to 2 mills? Look at how we were deceived about the fire tax.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I oppose this proposed millage increase.

Right there with you, brother. :sigh:

 

[Foxmeister]

I think the people of this state needs to start a movement to have the state constitution changed whereas millage increases need to be placed on a ballot for the voters to decide if they want millage increases or not.