LEONARDTOWN, Md. – On January 23, 2024, the Commissioners of Saint Mary’s County held a commissioners meeting in Leonardtown, MD. Many topics were discussed, including requests for public hearings to increase the fire tax rates from Leonardtown, Ridge, and Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Departments.
Each respective department shared when and where their public hearing regarding the fire tax increase would be, what the increase would entail, the estimated impact per household, as well as why they are requesting an increase in the fire tax.
The Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department (LVFD) requested a public hearing to increase the fire tax from the now $0.024 to the requested $0.056. This increased rate is estimated to impact households by $111.54. The increase in the tax rate is necessary so that the LVFD can continue to sustain their daily operations, support their Capital investment Programs, have funds to purchase property, and potentially build a training facility.
The public hearing will take place on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. at the Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department located at 22733 Lawrence Ave, Leonardtown, MD 20650. The results of the public hearing and public comment will be submitted to the county for consideration in the FY 2025 budget process.
The Ridge Volunteer Fire Department (RVFD) requested a public hearing to increase the fire tax from the now $0.036 to the requested $0.056. This increased rate is estimated to impact households by $48.85. The increase in the tax rate is necessary so that the RVFD can continue to sustain daily operations and support their Capital Investment Programs. The increase in the rate is impacted by an increase in operational costs and the cost of apparatus.
The public hearing will take place on Thursday, February 15, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. at the Ridge Volunteer Fire Department located at 13820 Point Lookout Rd, Ridge, MD 20680. The results of the public hearing and public comment will be submitted to the county for consideration in the FY 2025 budget process.
The Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department (MVFD) requested a public hearing to increase the fire tax from the now $0.046 to the requested $0.056. The increased rate is estimated to impact households by $28.18. The increase in the tax rate is necessary so that the MVFD can continue to sustain daily operations, support their apparatus plan, support their building plans, account for the increase in the cost of fuel, and account for the increase in the cost of gear.
The public hearing will take place on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. at the Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department. The results of the public hearing and public comment will be submitted to the county for consideration in the FY 2025 budget process.
You can watch the full meeting by clicking here.
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Sure increase the tax so these guys can continue to work side jobs while on the clock
These guys are volunteering their time. They are not paid firefighters. If they were career firefighters you would be paying much more taxes
You have to respect the men and woman of our various volunteer fire departments around the county. With every call they potentially risk their lives to come to the aid an help others. I know the Leonardtown VFD has issue with how they are treated by the town. They volunteer their services during Christmas to put up the town tree and wreaths yet only receive a donation of $1,000 for the effort. There are other issues but I won’t get into all of them here.
On the other hand many of these VFD’s treat their firehouses like frat houses. How many times have you seen them use department equipment for personal use? Ever see a department truck (SUV not a service vehicle) full of people going for coffee or lunch? There are other examples of misuse of equipment however the point is they benefit personally from equipment paid for by the tax payers. In the example I mention they should use their personal vehicles unless it is an official act on behalf of the VFD and a benefit to the tax payers who help provide the equipment being used. This goes for all county employee’s and the equipment they use provided by us tax payers.
They are being run ragged with all the calls now. They take the department equipment for coffee runs; lunch runs Etc. so they can respond faster to a call if needed. As far as a frat house, I don’t think so. These volunteers are very close. When they run into that burning house, their fellow volunteers got their back. I am for a increase Tax.
You…cartoon character!
By using a designated vehicle to grab coffee or lunch they are still able to respond with lights and sirens from anywhere they happen to be. This is much more time efficient than having to retrace a path back to a fire house, and THEN board a station vehicle. Maybe you wouldn’t mind the added response time for you or your loved ones? You’re likely a driver who also fails to pull over for responding emergency vehicles.
I personally want them to be able to respond as quick as possible. Volunteer, or shut your pie hole.
Yes,, of course they should up the tax,,
And build fire houses that are big, with ponds that have fountains,, and dance halls,, and kitchen.
I think they should build castles,,
Bigger than Hollywood fire house.
And then we’ll have a place to go dancing and to carnival,, and BYO bottle.
Do you want them to do that or do you want them to spend our money on more fire trucks?
What you all think? ,,,, All New fire trucks and a new pole barn to park them in,,,
Or pretty buildings with ponds and fountains and club halls.
And I do believe that all us tax payers do respect our fire fighters,, We need them,,