Washburn Fire Department looks to become tax-funded
Pictured above is one of the Washburn Fire Department’s trucks. The department takes the trucks for public education, such as at Southwest School, as well.
February 18, 2015
Charlea Mills
Big changes are in store for the Washburn Fire Department and the residents they serve. They announced this week that the Department is seeking to become a Fire Protection District and also that residents in the district could see a decrease in their insurance premiums thanks to a new rating earned by the department.
Voters in the April General Municipal Election will vote to decide whether to grant the department that classification, and in turn, incur a small increase on property taxes.
Washburn Fire Chief Brandon Howard has been with the department for years and was promoted to chief around four years ago. Howard says the move to become a fire protection district is to protect the future of the department. “If this passes, it’ll ensure the financial future of the fire department. Otherwise, we will have to raise our dues which penalizes the people in the district who reliably support us each year.”
As it currently stands, all funds that run the Washburn Fire Department are generated through voluntary dues and fundraisers. The department also applies for grants for specialized equipment and training. Only around 60 percent of the residents within the Washburn district, which includes a small portion of McDonald County, as well, pay their dues. Dues of $45 each year make residents members that support the district. Howard said, “We can bill people for our services if they aren’t members, but it doesn’t usually work out. It’s hit or miss if we see anything from that.”
If the switch to Fire Protection District is made, the funding for the department will go from approximately $20,000 per year to around $45,000 per year. As a Fire Protection District, instead of members paying a voluntary due, an additional $0.30 per $100 of assessed value would be added to their annual real estate and personal property taxes and would go to fund the department.
Sherry Sears, Barry County Assessor, said that for someone with a real estate value of around $50,000, that would mean around $30 in additional taxes each year. Obviously, people with higher or lower property values will be affected in relation to their value. Dues would no longer be collected.
One thing is apparent to the department, to keep the department safe, changes need to be made. Howard said, “A lot of these grants we apply for are becoming more and more difficult to get. A grant that we might have gotten five or six years ago is either gone or we might not get it now. The grants can go away.” Howard added that the $20,000 operational budget only covers their day-to-day costs, not equipment or training for the firefighters.
Howard said that they have already planned on how to incorporate those funds if the Fire Protection District is passed. He stated, “Over time, services will improve because we will be better able to train our staff, get more specialized equipment and it’ll mean it’ll be safer for our people responding.”
When the fire department began, it was only a handful of volunteers and a 1946 GMC pumper truck. Now, the department has 20 volunteers and 10 vehicles who work out of two different stations. With around 200 calls annually, the volunteers respond to fires, auto extrication, hazardous materials, EMS medical assists, rescue and public education.
The department is using all means to improve their training and better serve the patrons in their community, and part of that meant being classified as a more safe district by the Insurance Service Offices (ISO). Before, Washburn was classified as a 9-10 district-wide. Now, with improvements to the department, city water department and E9-1-1 Dispatch Center, most of the district is a 5 or 6. For people in one of the 5 or 6 rating areas, they could be eligible for discounts on their property insurance on April 1.
Howard said, “For some people, they will save more on their premiums thanks to the new ISO rating than their taxes will be raised.”
Howard attributes the lower ratings to multiple factors, including the City of Washburn’s water storage and delivery capabilities as well as better equipment and training for the fire department. He said, “The hard work and dedication of the current and past volunteers, along with the strong support from the community, also played a huge role in the lower classifications.”
Howard went on to say, “While some may see an increase over the current dues system, the lower ISO classification would offset the increase by lowering insurance premiums in most instances.”
Those within the Washburn Fire District can vote on the issue in the April 7 General Municipal Election.
Charlea Mills
Big changes are in store for the Washburn Fire Department and the residents they serve. They announced this week that the Department is seeking to become a Fire Protection District and also that residents in the district could see a decrease in their insurance premiums thanks to a new rating earned by the department.
Voters in the April General Municipal Election will vote to decide whether to grant the department that classification, and in turn, incur a small increase on property taxes.
Washburn Fire Chief Brandon Howard has been with the department for years and was promoted to chief around four years ago. Howard says the move to become a fire protection district is to protect the future of the department. “If this passes, it’ll ensure the financial future of the fire department. Otherwise, we will have to raise our dues which penalizes the people in the district who reliably support us each year.”
As it currently stands, all funds that run the Washburn Fire Department are generated through voluntary dues and fundraisers. The department also applies for grants for specialized equipment and training. Only around 60 percent of the residents within the Washburn district, which includes a small portion of McDonald County, as well, pay their dues. Dues of $45 each year make residents members that support the district. Howard said, “We can bill people for our services if they aren’t members, but it doesn’t usually work out. It’s hit or miss if we see anything from that.”
If the switch to Fire Protection District is made, the funding for the department will go from approximately $20,000 per year to around $45,000 per year. As a Fire Protection District, instead of members paying a voluntary due, an additional $0.30 per $100 of assessed value would be added to their annual real estate and personal property taxes and would go to fund the department.
Sherry Sears, Barry County Assessor, said that for someone with a real estate value of around $50,000, that would mean around $30 in additional taxes each year. Obviously, people with higher or lower property values will be affected in relation to their value. Dues would no longer be collected.
One thing is apparent to the department, to keep the department safe, changes need to be made. Howard said, “A lot of these grants we apply for are becoming more and more difficult to get. A grant that we might have gotten five or six years ago is either gone or we might not get it now. The grants can go away.” Howard added that the $20,000 operational budget only covers their day-to-day costs, not equipment or training for the firefighters.
Howard said that they have already planned on how to incorporate those funds if the Fire Protection District is passed. He stated, “Over time, services will improve because we will be better able to train our staff, get more specialized equipment and it’ll mean it’ll be safer for our people responding.”
When the fire department began, it was only a handful of volunteers and a 1946 GMC pumper truck. Now, the department has 20 volunteers and 10 vehicles who work out of two different stations. With around 200 calls annually, the volunteers respond to fires, auto extrication, hazardous materials, EMS medical assists, rescue and public education.
The department is using all means to improve their training and better serve the patrons in their community, and part of that meant being classified as a more safe district by the Insurance Service Offices (ISO). Before, Washburn was classified as a 9-10 district-wide. Now, with improvements to the department, city water department and E9-1-1 Dispatch Center, most of the district is a 5 or 6. For people in one of the 5 or 6 rating areas, they could be eligible for discounts on their property insurance on April 1.
Howard said, “For some people, they will save more on their premiums thanks to the new ISO rating than their taxes will be raised.”
Howard attributes the lower ratings to multiple factors, including the City of Washburn’s water storage and delivery capabilities as well as better equipment and training for the fire department. He said, “The hard work and dedication of the current and past volunteers, along with the strong support from the community, also played a huge role in the lower classifications.”
Howard went on to say, “While some may see an increase over the current dues system, the lower ISO classification would offset the increase by lowering insurance premiums in most instances.”
Those within the Washburn Fire District can vote on the issue in the April 7 General Municipal Election.