When Addison voters go to the polls Tuesday, Aug. 8 they will decide if their fire department will continue to receive roughly a third of its operating revenue.
‘We run a really tight ship and people get absolutely the most bang for their buck,? said Fire Chief George Spencer.
Voters will be asked to authorize an eight-year, 0.75-mill levy to finance the department’s fire/EMS operations.
A mill is equal to $1 for every $1,000 of a property’s taxable value. If approved, this millage would generate $244,537 for the department beginning with the December 2006 tax bill.
The fire department is currently supported by three operating millages, each previously approved by voters at different times, each authorized at a rate of 0.75 mill for a combined total of 2.25 mills.
‘The community’s so supportive of us,? Spencer said.
The millage voters are being asked to approve next month was originally passed in August 2002. It expired with the December 2005 levy at a reduced rate of 0.7017-mill, the result of Headlee rollbacks.
With 85 to 90 percent of the department’s revenues derived from taxes, Spencer said each of the operating millages ‘supports just a little less than one-third of our operating budget.?
The department’s budget for the 2006-07 fiscal year is $701,415.
‘I think we have one of the tightest budgets and one of the most accountable budgeting processes around,? Spencer said. ‘I’ll stand us up against any fire department anywhere.?
Both the fire board and township board keep a close eye on the department budget.
‘We welcome it,? the chief said. ‘We’re not trying to hide anything, everything’s above board. Every penny we spend is public money, therefore we want to be completely accountable for everything we do.?
But don’t mistake a tight budget for a lack of service. For example, Spencer noted the rural department’s Advanced Life Support (ALS) units arrive on scene within six minutes ‘about 95 percent of the time.?
The department is currently staffed by four full-time career firefighters/paramedics including the chief, a full-time administrative assistant and 25 paid-on-call firefighters.
If this upcoming millage proposal is not approved by voters, Spencer said the budget cuts required could be significant and affect services.
‘We’d have to reduce our staffing, lay people off,? he said. ‘I don’t know if we could still provide our Advanced Life Support program.?