Jennifer Carboni has a good piece in this morning's Daily Local News about discussions currently underway to consolidate the Parkesburg, Pomeroy and Atglen fire companies into a single volunteer fire fighting organization.
The plan being considered would bring Atglen, West Sadsbury, Parkesburg, Sadsbury, Highland and East Fallowfield into a single fire district
The expectations is that equipment, manpower and facilities would be better used and be less expensive under a single fire protection umbrella.
The money quote comes from Parkesburg Fire Commissioner Ray Stackhouse:
"That's what we're looking at in our area … individually, all of our fire companies and ambulance companies are struggling to survive while operating independently."You can read the entire article here.
12 comments:
This should have happened years ago. The general public does not know what it costs to operate a volunteer fire company. Like your house we pay for heat, electric and telephone for the fire houses. If a truck breaks down the minimum cost for a minor repair can be over a thousand dollars. A pump rebuild over 20 thousand. You just can't make enough subs and pot pie dinners to fund a fire company today. To replace a fire truck will cost at least 450 to 500 thousand for a pumper and close to a million for a ladder. If you had a paid fire company you would be looking at 5 to 7 mills in taxes to fund it. A volunteer organization may make it on 1 to 2 mills. Think about it.
My only question is why aren't other fire departments considering consolidation? West Fallowfield has averaged around 10 or ao calls each of the last 3 or 4 months. And out of that number maybe half of the calls each month have been in the township of West Fallowfield, all the other calls are for mutual aid. Not sure why they aren't considering consolidation. However they do receive money from WF township each year because of a millage increase a few years ago.
So true. Not only do our volunteer firemen fight fires, but they also have to raise the money to fund the fire company as well as recruit new members. Its an impossible task.
Ken, does parkesburg have the emergency services tax? It is a tax on everyone that works/is employed in the boro which can not exceed $52 per year?
This from Tina Myers on Facebook:
Parkesburg sent out 2244 Fund Drive Letters - They received back 492. 21.9% gave Average Amount given $38.68. West Sadsbury Business - 107 - 9 Gave Parkesburg Business 69 6 Gave - West Sadsbury Residents - 547 132 Gave P'burg Residents 1052 233 (These are 2010 numbers - 2011 are not compelete as the Fund Drive is still open)
Regarding West Fallowfields participation in the consolidation of local fire companies, all of the fire companies surrounding Parkesburg, Pomeroy and Atglen were solicited to join. Other than the remaining three the others declined.
Then I hope the declining fire companies don't ask for increased funding from taxes anytime soon.
At this time, there has not been a decision as to how the consolidated fire district will be paid for (although, a tax - be it by head, by assessed value of real estate or a combination - is the most likely culprit).
Coming up with a fee based on assessed value of real estate is a tax.
Yes, and finding a fair and equitable way to pay for a service the community needs and values is the only way to ensure the community has a fully manned and equipped fire and ambulance service in place.
Remember, the state does not require a municipality to provide police, trash removal, snow removal etc. But they do require that the municipality provide fire protection
Actually municipalities are required to provide snow removal on all township/borough owned roads. Unless there is a state of emergency declared.
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