First resolution passed
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Bradford County Commissioners relaunched the fire assessment process last week, approving a resolution allowing the county to pursue collecting the fee via property owners’ tax bills.
The vote has not imposed any new fee yet. It is just a first step in the process.
Commissioners approved the same resolution at the beginning of 2024, but by August a majority of them voted against collecting the fee. Now the 2024 resolution has expired, hence the need to approve a new version for 2025.
The special assessment would raise revenue to fund the county’s fire department, but based on prior discussions, commissioners are not interested in setting the fee high enough to fund 100% of that budget — a projected $4.85 million, according to the study released last May. Full funding would have required more $300 a year from each residential household and 20 cents per square foot for each commercial or other nonresidential building.
Commissioners have never supported imposing a fee that high. The final resolution which was defeated 4-1 on Aug. 6 contained a $167 fee for households and 11 cents per square foot for nonresidential properties. It also contained exemptions for disabled veterans and low-income households living at or below the federal poverty level. Churches and other nonprofits would have been exempt as well.
Commissioners wanted the public to know their Dec. 19 set nothing in stone. At the same time, commissioners have acknowledged the need to raise adequate revenue from diversified sources to pay for desired services. They have also said another source of revenue might allow them to lower property taxes, which are still set at the 10-mill cap.
There were no public comments during last Thursday’s hearing for the resolution. Citizens will have additional opportunities to learn more, ask questions and express themselves before any final decision is made. Commissioners also have questions and want to learn more. Three fire assessments workshops for commissioners and the public were scheduled:
—Feb. 4 at 10:30 a.m.
—March 18 at 5:30 p.m.
—May 6 at 10:30 a.m.
Each of these dates is on a Tuesday and before the final public hearings, which will take place on May 15 and June 17. If the board is going to vote for or against the fee, it will take place at the public hearings.
The commission is alternating these discussions with budget workshops, which will take place alongside their 10:30 a.m. board meetings on Jan. 7, March 4, April 1 and July 1. Commissioners and staff agreed to start the process early next year and are doing so.
