It was a long road to get there, but nine of Franklin County's fire districts will receive an estimated annual amount of $120,000 after Franklin County voters approved an annual fee of $36 in each of the districts.
Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow (D-Red Bay), who sponsored the legislation, held a meeting with representatives of each district along with Franklin County Revenue Commissioner Veronica Stancil Tuesday evening. Each department received an informational packet that included the estimated total that would be generated from the new fee. Totals for the first year came to $100,831.50, because only 10 months of fees were collected in the first year based on when the fee was approved by voters.
Stancil said future years should generate more than $120,000 based on 12 months' worth of fees.
The annual fee was overwhelmingly approved in each of the nine districts that submitted it to voters. Those fire districts, each manned by a volunteer fire department, include: Pleasant Site, Frankfort, East Franklin, Blue Springs, Gravel Hill, Burnout, Hodges and Vina Volunteer Fire Departments.
According to language contained in the supporting legislation, the fee applies to “each residence, dwelling and business” within the geographic boundaries of the fire district. Owners of undeveloped property are not bound to pay the fee on those tracts of land.
Stancil explained that the fee began in December of 2016, one month after it was approved by voters. So the first year's revenue is based on 10 months. That will change in subsequent years.
Stancil said anyone exempt from paying property tax who is 65 or older will be exempted from the $3/month fire fee. But residents age 65 and older who are exempt but have a second house will be required to pay the fee on the second residence. No annual fee will be assessed on barns, Stancil said, but owners of manufactured homes will be required to pay.
“This is not a tax increase,” Stancil said. “The law says the fire fee will be paid as property tax and will be combined with property tax. If it's not paid, the property is subject to being sold just as if property taxes weren't paid,” she added.
Since many Franklin County property owners pay their ad valorem taxes through an escrow account, Stancil said there could be some initial confusion if the homeowner's mortgage company doesn't deduct for fire fees in escrow.
“If you have an escrow account, that fire fee still has to be paid. We will accept fire fees directly at my office if it's not paid through escrow,” Stancil said. “The bottom line is the homeowner needs to be sure the fire fee is paid.”
Stancil and her office have worked diligently in recent months to determine which property owners in each of the nine districts will owe the annual fee, which amounts to $3 per month.
According to the legislation, a three percent administrative fee will be deducted out of all fees collected with those funds going into the Franklin County Commission general fund.
Morrow said he organized Tuesday's meeting as a way to express his appreciation to both the volunteer fire departments and Stancil and her office staff for their hard work.
“This is a big night for Franklin County volunteer fire departments. I'm sick and tired of going out to volunteer fire departments and seeing them have to hold barbecues and chicken stew fund raisers to raise money to help the people who benefit from your services through discounted insurance rates,” Morrow said. “I'd like to say thank you to all our volunteer fire departments. I admire and respect what you do.”
Vina VFD Chief Michael Moomaw, whose department will receive an estimated $11,203.50 in fire fees for the 10-month period, said that's almost three times what the department operates on presently. He said his department raised approximately $4,000 last year through fund raisers and its share of the tobacco tax that is divided among volunteer fire departments.
“This will make a major difference for our department. I'm already working on a five-year plan that will make important improvements for our department and the people we serve,” Moomaw said.
“We appreciate the work Johnny Mack did for us on this. It was a hard effort and Johnny Mack gave us a quick education on how things work in Montgomery. He put us right where we needed to be,” Moomaw added.
Morrow said the annual fee will bring a big return for the residents served by these nine fire districts.
“ISO (Insurance Services Office, Inc.) ratings in these fire districts determine people's rates and are based on how well these departments are trained and equipped. This isn't costing people money—it's saving them money through reduced insurance rates,” Morrow said.
The estimated amounts to be received for 2017 for the nine districts are: East Franklin ($18,915); Blue Springs ($9,807); Tharptown ($21,389); Gravel Hill ($8,788); Frankfort ($7,246); Hodges ($6,402); Burnout ($12,077); Vina ($11,204) and Pleasant Site ($5,005).
