Trending
FLEMINGTON -- Flemington Borough will not have a fire tax enacted at this time.
Announced by council member Jo LaRocque during the borough council's public meeting Thursday, there is not enough information between the Flemington Goodwill Hose Fire Company and the borough to consider a fire tax.
"We don't think we have enough information to enact a fire tax at this time. Not saying it couldn't come up at another time. We would very much like to meet with the fire company to go over some things that we are not quite sure of where your financial standings are. Any reimbursements that you have not requested from us," LaRocque, who serves as Finance Committee chair, said.
However, the fire tax could still be considered in the future. If the fire tax was enacted in the borough, it would equate to $11,900 each year. According to a listening session held Monday night, the borough was looking at a 0.2 mill fire tax that would equate to $24 a year for someone with a property assessed at $120,000.
The fire tax was originally requested by the fire company on Sept. 14. Since then, LaRocque said the finance committee has held more meetings regarding the tax that they do for their yearly budget.
"In less than a month, this is a big undertaking for tax payers," LaRocque said Thursday.
Prior to the fire tax's discussion Thursday, a listening session was held Monday night at the Red Eye Center for community responses. During that meeting, fire company member Rebecca Mellott said the fire company's income is $60,272.66 which includes donations, grant funds and fundraising. To date, Mellott said they have received $4,587.83 from residents, businesses and other organizations in donations. The company now sits at a total of $72,643.18 in expenses with a deficit of $12,370.52, according to Mellott.
Monday's session left borough residents feeling the fire tax was unfair. Of the few who attended Thursday's meeting, the same feeling was eminent by only one resident. The result was recommendations of doing more fundraising and getting others to volunteer more of their time. According to Fire Chief Gary Mellott, the fire company has 32 volunteers on the books, 15 active members and six members that do almost everything.
Chief Mellott continued that the past three years, the company had put in reimbursements on their insurance and were denied. Council member, David Grimm, said that was an agreement between parties for shared insurance for billing. He said the fire company also has not made requests for fuel since 2020.
"You (Chief Mellott) didn't ask for our share of the insurance, you didn't ask for fuel to be put in the budget every time -- you need to ask for that. That is over $1,000 a year," Grimm said.
Chief Mellott said $1,000 barely covers fuel costs for half of the year. Council members pushed for the fire company to work with local entities such as the Goodwill Hose Ambulance to do more fundraising.
"We can't find requests from you for some of these things," LaRocque said. "We heard numerous times the other night that you have a gold mine here with the Red Eye Center. We understand about your volunteers and we understand how much time you and Dustin and Mo put into that... Could you work with the ambulance -- they're in dire straits too -- if you have a Bingo and share it with them? That is a hunk of money you would be sharing. We would like to see you do more fundraising, even sharing it with other organizations that are also in dire straits."
Chief Mellott urged council members to check with all municipalities in the county and see what they donate to the fire company for fire protection. He said Flemington Borough does not give them anything donation wise.
The fire company receives donations from other local municipalities they cover. For example, Bald Eagle Township recently donated $1,000 to the fire company with their increased coverage.
Currently, Goodwill Hose has a dual response with Mill Hall Fire Company, according to Chief Mellott. With Mill Hall Fire Company's inability to cover many lifted assists, Goodwill Hose has since picked them up more.
However, much of the funding is still going to Mill Hall as opposed to Goodwill Hose.
Council member Wayne Allison pointed out that Mill Hall was still getting the "lionshare of the money."
"It's just how it is. They are responsible for providing the fire protection for emergency protection for their residents, so however they feel is the best way. All we can do is give them the same information you (council) get with all the calls we ran," Chief Mellott said.
Hearing from both sides, borough council made a motion to table the fire tax until more information is given and clarified. Council does not know when it will be brought back onto the table. There will be a committee meeting between the borough's financial officials and the fire company to discuss the next step.
"This fire tax, sure would help but it would be a drop in the bucket, and we want to talk prior to enacting a fire tax. Not saying we're against it at all, we just want to work with you guys and try to figure out a plan to help overall and not just a band aid situation," Chairman Pro-Tem Traci Kuntz said.