By David Kilby, Staff Writer
MONROE — Taxpayers in Fire District 1 will have the opportunity to vote on this year’s fire budget Saturday, Feb. 19, from 2 to 9 p.m. in the firehouse on Harrison Street.
District 1 covers 14 miles in the north portion of Monroe. The district has almost 60 volunteers and no career firemen, which allows its tax rate to be 11 cents per $100 of assessed value this upcoming year, the lowest of the three districts.
For District 1, the amount raised by taxation last year was $1,308,565, and the tax rate was 14 cents per $100 of assessed value. The owner of a property assessed at the average of $175,900 paid $246.
This year, the amount to be raised by taxation would be $1,028,010. The owner of a property assessed at the average of $169,400 would pay $186.
The commissioners’ intention for the budget was to “minimize any increases in the tax rate while providing continued excellence in fire protection services,” reads the budget statement.
Fire District 1 abolished the paid department in 2010. It consisted of two career firemen. This is the main cause for the 3-cent decrease in the proposed tax rate.
However, the district also bought a $140,000 brush truck.
The district’s total anticipated revenues would amount to $1,455,510. Last year’s revenues amounted to $1,621,373. The decrease is caused by the lower amount to be raised by taxation.
The total cost of operations and maintenance is proposed to be $974,233. Last year, it was $1,166,560. The main cause for the decrease was the abolition of the paid department, which will save the district $210,000 in salary and wages.
