County Fire Fees being debated

The County Commission wants a tax to pay more daytime staff on ambulance and fire calls. The Strategic Plan wants the new money for both operating and capital costs (p.39*, source at bottom).

OPTION 1 New annual tax of $110 per household and $800 per 10,000 square feet of business space. Total of $4.3 million per year. It would not vary with household size or income. No penalty has been planned for not paying. If 70% pay, it would raise $3 million per year. Many people would stop contributing to the fire companies, so the Commission plans to pay them $700,000 per year. The Commission pays them $400,000 now from property taxes.

OPTION 2 Raise $4.3 million per year from general property taxes, raising our rates from $1.13 (per $100) to $1.24. The average would be the same, but those with more property would pay more, and we already have methods for collection and enforcement. Most people would continue giving to the fire companies. Already the Commission has $7 million set aside for capital expenses, and no longer needs the judicial center formerly planned. It clearly does need fire and ambulance improvements, so it could use some of the existing $7 million and would not need to raise the full amount from taxes.

COMPARISONS (excludes tax-exempt)Option 1 Option 2 Units (p.40*) Homes $1,974,060 $1,925,545 17,946 homesBusiness $2,312,042 $2,360,556 28,900,520 squareTotal $4,286,102 $4,286,102 Received $3,000,000 $4,286,102 Ambulances now bill several hundred dollars per trip, which may raise $200,000 per year, but they only collect if the insurance company pays. The proposed $4.3 million averages $1,800 per call, and true total cost per call is much more, because of all the expenses paid by volunteer fire companies.Information Meetings are at 7pm"There will be a brief presentation and an opportunity for you to ask questions." Tue, Jan 17, Blue Ridge Mountain Volunteer Fire Company—7:00 p.m. 181 Keyes Gap Road, Harpers Ferry, WV Wed, Jan 25, Independent Fire Company—7:00 p.m. 200 West 2nd Avenue, Ranson, WV Thu, Jan 26, Friendship Fire Company—7:00 p.m. 1050 West Washington St., Harpers Ferry, WVThey are not inviting comments at this time, but you can always comment to the County Commissioners. "mailto:pnoland%40jeffersoncountywv.org", "mailto:dmanuel%40frontiernet.net", "mailto:fberrymorgan%40aol.com", "mailto:walterpellish%40mac.com", "mailto:lynwidmyer%40gmail.com"20% of all calls are fire, 26% medical, 10% false calls, 30% "good intent" calls, where caller wrongly believes there is a fire, 14% other (p.14*). From 2004-2009 total calls averaged 6 per day (2,400 per year, p.13*). Most calls are from around 2pm-9pm (p.15*). Pages 13-18* give a careful analysis of slow response times, which put people and property at risk. Volunteers have made enormous donations of their time and money, but are no longer able to respond fast enough, especially during the day. The average response time in 2004-2009 has been 18 minutes, where the standard is 10 minutes (p.18*), and every minute is crucial. There is not yet an analysis of how much response times can improve with paid staff.