Opinion
Tazewell County Board of Supervisors have a Public Hearing on an ordinance to take over fire services in the county. What could this mean for the citizens? I am sure there are pluses and minuses for the citizens of the county. If they completely take over all departments in the county that will mean many fire departments out of the way places will probably be closed as larger departments will take up response to those areas.
If these remote fire departments close what could be the effect on those communities? It will first of all mean it will take more time to respond to some areas. It could mean that insurance rates might go up on some citizens. An advantage to this is that crews responding to remote areas will probably have better equipment. They may be better trained and prepared for more issues than normal.
In Washington County Green Springs Fire Department does a lot of eating events and other things to raise money for their department. Many department volunteers work hard to fund raise and get the needed equipment and money needed to keep their departments operating. What will a complete takeover mean in regard to funding. Well departments are probably no longer worried about fundraising. The county will take care of the bills with the citizens tax dollars.
While they may tell you in a meeting that a takeover of all departments will not result in any departments closing, do not believe that when the cost comes rolling in cutbacks will probably be a necessity.
The Board is probably going to tell you that the meals tax will cover the costs. This is dreamland. When new trucks and equipment are needed and no one if fund raising and the bill is just dropped on the lap of the supervisors the meals tax will not cover it all, with such a widespread takeover.
As time goes by and the county is funding this overtime more and more firefighters will be paid. Volunteers will be harder to come by with the taking away the sense of community in the fire departments.
Then when so many trucks come up needing replaced at one time the county will have no choice but to raise the taxes to unimaginable levels. Sure, it sounds nice that the fire departments are all going to be county operated, just get ready to pay a big price.
