Tax revenue is declining
By Liz Shepard
Times Herald (Port Huron)
APPLEGATE, Mich. (AP) — Jeff Johnson is looking for a solution.
The Applegate fire chief knows his department’s services are priceless to residents in an emergency, but fire departments cost money, and tax revenue isn’t what it once was, according to the Times Herald of Port Huron.
The Applegate Fire Departments costs about $55,000, and that’s becoming too much for the small Sanilac County village as tax revenue continues to decline.
“It’s costing Applegate money, and what we’re looking at is in the next five years something has to change,” Johnson said.
He said he is approaching the four townships the department contracts with and explaining the problem. Applegate firefighters are contracted to cover portions of Washington, Sanilac, Lexington and Buell townships. Townships pay $550 per square mile of coverage. Residents are billed for calls, which range from about $1,500 for a structure fire to $500 for a small grass fire.
The village pays about $22,000 into the fire department budget. Applegate itself is a single square mile.
“We’re paying a lot more for our one mile than some of these townships are paying for multiple miles, and I said something needs to change,” said Village President Michelle Herrington.
Options include a fire authority — but Herrington said not all the townships are on board with that. Other possibilities include increasing rates.
“We’re just trying to be proactive instead of reactive,” Johnston said.
“Cutting the department is our last resort — we still have a couple years to figure that out,” Herrington said, adding the department will celebrate 100 years of service in the spring.
The solution to the funding problem isn’t clear, and Applegate isn’t alone in trying to find it.
“If somebody knew that answer, you and I wouldn’t be having this conversation,” said James McGee, president of the Michigan State Firemen’s Association.
Budget reductions are a growing problem for departments.
“It’s not just one small department in the Thumb, it’s everywhere,” McGee said.
McGee said if small departments fold, the impact will ripple into neighboring municipalities.
“If departments start closing their doors, it’s going to have a large impact on that community and the surrounding communities,” he said.
Other departments will have to pick up coverage, meaning longer response times and more wear and tear on those vehicles traveling further distances.
The impact is something Stephen Schneider understands. The volunteer firefighter also is the Applegate treasurer.
“Fire multiplies so fast, every minute you add to that, the chances of getting it under control quickly are diminished,” Schneider said.
“You add 10 minutes to the response time, all you’re going to be doing is watering the basement.”
