Newell ballot will have fire tax
NEWELL – The Newell Volunteer Fire Department will have a fire tax referendum on Tuesday’s ballot, according to fire Chief Joseph Dandrea Jr. He said the fire company has requested the one-mill fire tax for the purpose of helping to keep the fire department running.
“There have been a lot of miscommunications about it,” said Dandrea, explaining that because the fire company recently purchased a club to help with fund-raising, he has heard of speculation in the community that the fire company will be using revenue from tax dollars for the club.
Dandrea said there will be a meeting about the tax referendum at the fire hall today at 6:30 p.m., to give people a chance to “come find out the truth.”
“We need the extra money for the upkeep of the building and equipment, and to help pay for insurances,” said Dandrea.
“It will be kept in a separate account, and the borough will do an audit on it every year,” he said.
Dandrea said that additional revenue is necessary for the fire company to keep operating, since last year, their total income was $23,654.29, and their total expenses were $26,045.71.
Dandrea said that if the new tax is passed, the fire company will not have to ask for donations in Newell anymore.
He said that donations are slowly going down and he thinks it is because some people who are new to the area “don’t understand the magnitude of having a fire department.”
“About half of the people in the community are not donating, and this will save some of the older people who are (donating) some money. This would get everyone to carry their share, which is only fair because the people who are not donating are getting the exact same protection as the people who are.”
Dandrea said that the tax rate in Newell is two mills, and if a property owner’s house is valued at $50,000, they are paying $50 per mill in taxes each year.
The fire tax would mean an additional $50, which Dandrea said is smaller amount of money than some supporters of the fire department donate each year.
“Having a fire department also helps save property owners’ money on insurance, because people who live in communities without a fire department usually pay $200 to $300 more in insurance,” said Dandrea.
Dandrea said he wanted to assure the public that the new tax would only be used to help the fire company continue to protect the community.
“We’re asking them to help us like we’ve been helping them,” he said.