HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93009_2181To: Sarah Haire June 3, 1999
ATTACHMENT B
cc: Alice Stewart,Steve Johnson,Alice Fortner,Tom Bowles
I was disappointed to hear of your decision to lower the fire tax rate in
spite of the detail presentation we made to to the commissioners last week. We presented
plans to:
*Reduce county indebtedness thereby reducing interest expense and providing
funds for future major expenditures.
*Plans to consolidate purchases and standardization of equipment, again major
reduction of expense.
*Plans for review of fire hydrant installation to provide better fire protection as
well as significant reduction of the premiums for taxpayers home owners insurance
*Plans to recognize and assist our volunteer fire fighters for their out of pocket
expense and to address the continual problem of attracting new volunteers.
*Plans to re -do an out of date study that is being used as a basis to commit to
major expenditures for equipment.
*Plans to begin financial planning for the future.
All of these projects were to be addressed by both the fire commission
and a select group of 5 members of the Iredell County Firemens Association appointed by
the President of the association. This group has met and determined the overall proposal
that was presented to you. To achieve such major improvements as described, it is
imperative to have the co-operation of this group.The current members of the fire
commission, and Alice Stewart as our assigned commissioner, have been able to develop
an environment of trust and respect with the firemen that has not existed in the past that
would allow for accomplishment of these objectives
This year provided a great opportunity to move forward and achieve
major improvements in all the areas addressed. It is regretful that your decision will not
support our program and in my opinion is a dis-service to both our taxpayers and our
volunteer firemen. To have allowed commissioner Bowles to convince you to lower the
tax base, take a wait and see attitude for a year, let things further deteriorate and then
maybe push it back up, will accomplish nothing except further delay these needed
improvements as well as destroy the co-operative of )rt of the fire commission and fire
departments. Either you believe in the plans we presented to you and trust that we are
serious about achieving the objectives or you don't. Nothing is gained by waiting a year to
begin debt reduction and putting cost reduction programs in place. You openly express a
desire to reduce the counties over $2 million in fire truck debt, but instead of using the
revenue generated by the additional $1.25 for this purpose, as suggested by commissioner
Johnson, you propose we don't collect this at all, let further interest and debt accumulate
another year and then raise the rate back. Commissioner Bowles stated that the debt over
the last few years has increased dramatically What is the surprise`' What would you
expect" And more important what do you think will continue to happen this year and
every year there afier until you finally face up to the facts You can not continue to replace
20 to 25 year old equipment and/or add new requirements with out any capital budget
unless you increase debt. We have been discussing this for years without success. We now
have an opportunity to finally address the problem and provide adequate fiunding but you
have decided to go back, wait a year and do nothing Do you really believe that by
lowering the tax collection for fire service you will reduce debt and provide for the firture7
11 is with deep regret that I Icel your decision is not in support of the fire commission and
our objectives nor du 1 believe it is in the long range best interest of our tax payers To
openly desire debt reduction on one hand, propose a short term reduction of revenue and
then propose possibly raising it up again next year, is in my opinion not a solid foundation
for achieving success and building trust with the participants