Midway fire finances looking up

Even though the passage of the Midway Fire District referendum will allow fire commissioners to increase the fire protection tax rate annually, fire commissioners are hopeful that they will not have to increase the rate above 1.6 percent.

The referendum that passes Jan. 31 allowed the fire commissioners to increase its property tax millage rate from 1.4 percent to 1.6 percent and also gives the board discretion to increase the rate annually by no more than .2 mills until it reaches the state cap of 3.75.

However, Fire Commissioner and board treasurer Jacque Gorris told fellow commissioners during a Feb. 14 meeting that the district hadn’t had to dip into its savings account as much as they anticipated.

“Depending on what the economy does and what home prices do that could be 1.6 all the way across the board,” he said. “So the good news is we are better off than we thought we would be so we can probably stay at 1.6 for the next five to six years.”

Another good sign, according to Gorris, is the 88 new homes being constructed in the district. He said it wasn’t clear whether it was a fluke or a trend but “it is a bit of information that looks hopeful for us.”

Gorris said the district would be paying off the capital loan for the fire station on Abercrombie Road in 2013, which will free up more than $100,000 a year. He motioned to place that $100,000 a year into a capital improve fund so the district will have funds to replace trucks and other equipment. The motion passed unanimously. 

For more on this story, see the Feb. 23 issue or Navarre Press or subscribe online.