Whether or not the Addison Twp. Fire Department continues to receive roughly one third of its operating revenue will be decided by voters Nov. 2.
Addison voters are being asked to reauthorize (or renew) one of the department’s three operating millages at a rate of 0.75 mill for six years, beginning with the December 2005 tax collection and ending with the December 2010 collection.
The operating millage in question was approved in November 2000 at a rate of 0.75 mill. It’s currently being levied at 0.6498 mill due to Headlee rollbacks and is set to expire in December 2004.
If voters approve the millage’s reauthorization (or renewal) at 0.75 mill, the Headlee rollback would remain in effect and the rate levied in December 2005 would be slightly less than voter-approved 0.75-mill rate.
‘This millage provides about a third of our funding, so it’s very important,? said Fire Chief George Spencer. ‘Basically, it pays the bills ? utilities, wages, the non-capital items the fire department buys such as uniforms and supplies.?
‘It allows us to keep our fire and (Advanced Life Support) services on the street 24/7,? the chief added.
The department is supported by two other small fire operating millages ? a 0.5817-mill levy that expires in 2008 and a 0.7017-mill levy which expires in December 2005.
Spencer said the reason voters are being asked to reauthorize (or renew) this millage for a six-year period is to get the three operating millages on a schedule whereby one is up for renewal every two years.
When the other two expire and come up for renewal, six-year levying periods will be requested for each resulting in operating millages expiring in 2010, 2012 and 2014.
‘I give the fire board credit, they were definitely looking ahead to ensure the department maintains stable funding so we can keep operating,? Spencer said.
When asked why voters should approve the millage reauthorization, the chief said, ‘We are providing, I think, an incredibly good service in Addison Township for a very low millage rate.?
Addison’s three fire operating millages combined total 1.9332-mill for the December 2004 tax collection. Two fire capital millages totaling 0.6832-mill and expiring in 2008 are also levied for large expenses such as vehicle purchases.
‘For a rural, ALS fire department, that’s incredibly low,? Spencer said of the department’s total operating millage. ‘We offer efficient and effective service for a very small price. And we’re here 24/7, so you call, we’ll be there.?
If voters do not approve the renewal, Spencer said the department would still have full funding for the 2005-06 fiscal year (because of the December 2004 tax collection), but after that ‘we would have to make some considerable cutbacks with a third of our revenue gone.?