BOULDER, Mont. — A new funding plan for the Clancy Volunteer Fire Department moves ahead after county commissioners approved higher fees for residents.
The approval cleared the way for the department to move ahead with a building expansion and seek financing for the project. Department leaders said the effort took nearly a year of public hearings and community outreach to reach this point.
Chief Kevin Harris said the department spent that time building support in Clancy and bringing its proposal before county leaders.
"Thank you to our public for supporting us and coming to our meetings and saying their gratitude for what we do. Our trustees believe in our vision and supported us to go in front of the commissioners," Harris said.
Not everyone supported the increase. Some Jefferson County residents questioned what taxpayers would get in return for paying more each month.
"I’m kind of seeing this as more money. We want more money; we want more money. Then what are you providing for us? If you’re having a lot of structure fires and you don’t have a phone truck, if you have a lot of wildland fires then are we preparing for that? What’s this building going to do for us as taxpayers?" a Jefferson County resident said.
Fire department leaders explained that their budget has not kept pace with inflation for new trucks and equipment. They said that gap led to the fee proposal.
Jefferson County Commissioner Cory Kirsch said the department faces limits that other agencies do not.
"They can’t keep up with the growth because the other department’s evaluations go up and their revenue goes up. These guys don’t. It's flat all the time. Whether revenue or evaluations go up or not. So, they have to come in every so often to keep up with the cost of doing business," Kirsch said.
Under the plan, the fire service fee rose by $10 per house each month. That changed the yearly cost from $145 to $265 per home.
Department leaders said the added revenue will help keep operations going and pay for an expansion to the current facility. Officials said the project will help reduce response times, improve local safety ratings and provide a centralized safe gathering point during large-scale emergencies.
With the proposal approved, the department could go to a lending institution for a loan, complete building drawings, put the project out for bid and begin construction next year.
The approval cleared the way for the department to move ahead with a building expansion and seek financing for the project. Department leaders said the effort took nearly a year of public hearings and community outreach to reach this point.
Chief Kevin Harris said the department spent that time building support in Clancy and bringing its proposal before county leaders.
"Thank you to our public for supporting us and coming to our meetings and saying their gratitude for what we do. Our trustees believe in our vision and supported us to go in front of the commissioners," Harris said.
Not everyone supported the increase. Some Jefferson County residents questioned what taxpayers would get in return for paying more each month.
"I’m kind of seeing this as more money. We want more money; we want more money. Then what are you providing for us? If you’re having a lot of structure fires and you don’t have a phone truck, if you have a lot of wildland fires then are we preparing for that? What’s this building going to do for us as taxpayers?" a Jefferson County resident said.
Fire department leaders explained that their budget has not kept pace with inflation for new trucks and equipment. They said that gap led to the fee proposal.
Jefferson County Commissioner Cory Kirsch said the department faces limits that other agencies do not.
"They can’t keep up with the growth because the other department’s evaluations go up and their revenue goes up. These guys don’t. It's flat all the time. Whether revenue or evaluations go up or not. So, they have to come in every so often to keep up with the cost of doing business," Kirsch said.
Under the plan, the fire service fee rose by $10 per house each month. That changed the yearly cost from $145 to $265 per home.
Department leaders said the added revenue will help keep operations going and pay for an expansion to the current facility. Officials said the project will help reduce response times, improve local safety ratings and provide a centralized safe gathering point during large-scale emergencies.
With the proposal approved, the department could go to a lending institution for a loan, complete building drawings, put the project out for bid and begin construction next year.
