ashe

A fire tax is nothing new and was started to help with the increasing costs of operating a fire club without begging at doors and selling raffle tickets. However when it started it was a warm fuzzy feeling that all fire clubs would manage and spend the funds wisely and according to budget. Well we full well know now that is not the case. The gang in Raleigh likes to pass laws about ticks on dogs let them pass the audit law per the terms by Pointman.

Absolutely!

And by public record I assume you mean they should have to actively publish said audit in the paper and on the county website

I don't think any of the fire clubs should get one dime of taxpayers money short of providing an independent and annual audit of funds expended. And...…..this audit should be a matter of public record.

Does Todd get the same rate from both counties? Or can it be different?

Anyone hear what the gang over in Todd want as far as their tax rate? At least there were no crooks at New River just old equipment that failed. Still question marks about the parking lot.

They may have been present, but they didn’t ask the hard questions. I doubt they even considered asking about the audits or asked to see the audits.

Well, one of your mouth breathers was at the public hearing, and probably asking these hard questions you were talking about. Why don’t some of you keyboard jockeys crawl out from behind your computer screens and go to the hearings or request the proposed fire dept budget from the county.

Of course the mouth breathers didn’t ask the hard questions. They heard fire department and just automatically gave in. But it does look like the hose jockeys had some reserve, but were hit with multiple unplanned issues in the same year.

Their insurance rating is excellent at a 6. You are right only, there is a lot of information missing. There is just enough there to make your jaw drop in aw.

What were the results of the last County audit of this service? Were the revenue and expenditures all in order? It is important to the home owners to maintain the fire rating for insurance purposes, will these purchases improve the fire rating or only maintain it? Could the County extend a loan to the department for the purchase/repair of the equipment and then let the department pay back the County from the current tax rate. I have not seen a detailed report of what the $.03 will raise per year, and an itemized budget of how it will be spent. I would hope these would be the minimum requirements from the BOCC prior to authorizing a tax increase.

I question why there was a sink hole in the parking lot. Usually a sink hole comes as a result of something being buried like stumps or trees that have since rotted. Not blaming the fire club.

Of course they won't and they won't save any for the next emergency because apparently they didn't save any in the past.....

Seems like the increase may really be needed. But the problem I have is after the coffers are rebuilt, they won’t drop the rate back down.

Maybe they should check and see what they can get for free from the feds I see tankers listed all the time

https://ashecountyline.com/...4_hIOhP1TM