Fiscal Court approves the insurance fee to finance fire brigades

The emergency on Thursday, which was led by Warren County's volunteer fire brigade, led to a happy ending.

On Thursday, about four dozen firefighters and supporters of the district's nine VfDS turned out to say goodbye to a prescription on Thursday, which exploited the potential to improve the reaction of these departments to fires and other emergencies.

In a unanimous vote the six m

The Agistrates approved the second and final reading of a regulation that raised a license fee for insurance companies in the district. The income from the license fees, which are expected to be more than 4 million US dollars a year, will receive upgrades for the VfDs and the hiring of paid firefighters.

This will be a significant financing for the departments, which are currently mainly financed from annual fire fees that are paid by dormitories and companies in the district. The annual fire fees – $ 50 for households and $ 70 for companies – achieved $ 1,308,755 in 2023 on nine VFDs, and the Fiscal Court delivered a further $ 316,500.

Such funding has been considered inadequate by the district's volunteer fire chiefs for years, since the residential and commercial survey of the region has heated up explosive fires and medical reactions.

In a report by the consultant Missioncit it says that the number of services managed by the district of the district rose by 43% from 2021 to 2023, while these departments had difficulty finding volunteers.

Income from the license fee for insurance companies is available in various currents, whereby the tariffs are determined as follows:

– 2% about life, accident, health, victims/liability and car lines

– 7% on fire and Allied dangers, domestic marine and all other risks

These fees still have to need the approval of the Ministry of Insurance in Kentucky and are probably not put into force before July, but County Fire Chiefs already see the voice on Thursday as divinity.

“This is an opportunity to change our volunteer fire brigade forever,” said Brian Lee, head of Richardsville VfD. “All departments record increases in the rise. This (license fee) can help to react to the daily staff to these calls. “

Although the increased financing is expected to make the district residents in the paperback, the insurance rates that these inhabitants pay by improving the ISO rating (Insurance Office) that includes insurance costs will be improved.

“Sometimes difficult decisions have to be made,” said Doug Gorman of Warren County. “All members of the Finance Court understand that it is easy not to do anything.

“But they would see an increase in insurance tariffs and less fire protection. The difficult thing is to tackle this now. We will be able to change firefighters to some full-time firefighters who help our volunteers so that we can lower the response times and improve ISO evaluation. “

In addition to the financing of some paid firefighters, the increased income should also enable VFDS to improve their equipment.

A first step in the direction of from Thursday was carried out on Thursday when the magistrates spent $ 1,731,10 to buy three 3,000 gallon tankers from Atlantic Emergency Solutions in Virginia.

Gorman explained that the money for new equipment was in this year's budget.

“We hadn't bought any equipment in a few years,” he said.

According to Warren County Fire Coordinator Bill Rector, which was created in January as a recommendation from the MissionCIT study, it could be the first of a series of purchases that was hired in January.

“We will buy some tankers and engines,” said Rector. “These tankers will be in operation for 20 to 25 years. We will place you geographically throughout the district so that you can react in a reasonable time. “

Rector also plans to invest in staff.

“We have to hire some part -time employees to cover the personnel needs that the departments have,” he said. “We will determine how much money is generated by the license fees, and this enables us to build up a budget.

“We want to start people soon. My request will be to start this (setting) on ​​July 1st. “