Antwerp fire department looking into new district
ANTWERP — The fire department here wants to split away from the village and create a fire district. But whether the move would save taxpayers money has yet to be determined.
The Antwerp Fire Department has started to look at the fire district process, representatives told the Board of Trustees on Wednesday night. In June, the Philadelphia fire department spoke to the village and town boards for the same reason.
Both departments say it would be easier for them to operate independently of the village and town boards. With a district, a board of fire commissioners would be publicly elected and a separate budget and tax rate would be established for fire protection.
"Now, everything goes through the village. We had a hard time getting a new truck because it all had to go through the village," said George A. Turner, a volunteer with the village-run Antwerp Fire Department. "Commissioners can write grants and get money faster than if it was done through the village. It would be one more entity that the village wouldn't have to deal with on a daily basis."
The neighboring town of Theresa has a fire district and Mr. Turner said Antwerp would look there for more information. A district can be created only after a public vote and after both municipal boards agree it is in the best interest of the residents.
Firefighters say that a fire district could cut village and town taxes. That is possible, if once a district is formed the respective municipalities remove what was budgeted for fire protection from the yearly budget and if the fire board of commissioners monitors what is spent.
Taxpayers in the village and town of Theresa pay a separate tax of $1.72 per $1,000 of assessed property value for fire protection in 2009. That is in addition to the town and village property taxes.
Taxpayers in Philadelphia and Antwerp pay for fire protection as part of the collective town and village taxes. According to the Jefferson County Office of Real Property Tax Services, Philadelphia village taxpayers pay about 84 cents per $1,000 for fire protection, while those in the town pay about 93 cents per $1,000. Antwerp village taxpayers pay $1.17 per $1,000 for fire protection and those in the town pay $1.60 per $1,000.
The three departments have varying operating budgets and are funded partly by fundraising and grant money. The Theresa department has an operating budget of $172,568 for 2009. The Philadelphia department's budget is $79,000 for 2009, and the Antwerp department will operate on $30,000; both amounts are divided between the town and village budgets.
Since 2004, the Theresa fire district budget has grown 88 percent, or $80,807, from $91,761 to the current $172,568.
Raising taxes is not the purpose of a fire district, said Troy R. Pitts, a member of the Antwerp department.
"The district isn't there to raise taxes; everyone in the department is a taxpayer, so we don't want that," he said after the Wednesday night meeting. "But as a taxpayer, I want the best fire protection possible."
Other areas of concern are ownership. The two villages own the fire halls and the majority of the equipment in both the Philadelphia and Antwerp departments. As part of the creation of the district, it would have to be decided how and if ownership would transfer.
The bottom line — whether a fire district would lower or raise taxes — is still unanswered.
"I know you've talked district in the past and I think we should get it out and see if the public wants it," Antwerp Deputy Mayor Merle E. Pickert said. "I don't know if it's feasible or not, but I don't think anyone can know that right now."
Representatives from the Antwerp department will address the Town Council at 7 p.m. Monday in the town hall.
