NEWBERRY – Discussion concerning Newberry’s fire assessment rate began on Monday, but with only three commissioners in attendance, the conversation was short lived.Alternate Chair Pro-tempore Jordan Marlowe, Commissioner Joe Hoffman and Commissioner Lois Forte passed a resolution to set the preliminary residential fire assessment rate at $124 for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.
City staff recommended this rate because it would allow the commission to lower the fire assessment rate when the other commissioners are in attendance. The rate can be brought down, but can not be brought back up, City Manager Keith Ashby explained.
Currently the fire assessment is set at $75. Two years ago the commission passed a resolution to keep the fire assessment rate between $75 and $124.
“I do not want the City of Newberry to lose their fire department,” Forte said. “And if it means raising our assessment up a little bit to keep our fire department, I’m all in favor for raising it a little bit.”
Hoffman said that if the commission plans on raising the fire assessment rate, it should consider lowering the mileage rate to compensate. If the commission wanted to raise taxes overall, the matter would require more commissioners in attendance.
Marlowe proposed that in the future, the assessment fee be based on square footage of the residential house instead of a flat fee, which makes it a type of regressive tax.
“It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me that if I’ve got a 1,200-square-foot house, I’m paying the same thing that someone who has a 3,000-square-foot house is paying to get a service,” he said.
City Attorney Scott Walker said that this change probably could not be developed in time for the upcoming fiscal year.
The commissioners agreed that accepting the higher assessment rate would prevent the other commissioners from being tied to a decision they did not make.
“We certainly don’t want to do anything that prevents them from having a say,” Marlowe said.
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Email mharvard@alachuatoday.com
Alternate Chair Pro-tempore Jordan Marlowe, Commissioner Joe Hoffman and Commissioner Lois Forte passed a resolution to set the preliminary residential fire assessment rate at $124 for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.
City staff recommended this rate because it would allow the commission to lower the fire assessment rate when the other commissioners are in attendance. The rate can be brought down, but can not be brought back up, City Manager Keith Ashby explained.
Currently the fire assessment is set at $75. Two years ago the commission passed a resolution to keep the fire assessment rate between $75 and $124.
“I do not want the City of Newberry to lose their fire department,” Forte said. “And if it means raising our assessment up a little bit to keep our fire department, I’m all in favor for raising it a little bit.”
Hoffman said that if the commission plans on raising the fire assessment rate, it should consider lowering the mileage rate to compensate. If the commission wanted to raise taxes overall, the matter would require more commissioners in attendance.
Marlowe proposed that in the future, the assessment fee be based on square footage of the residential house instead of a flat fee, which makes it a type of regressive tax.
“It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me that if I’ve got a 1,200-square-foot house, I’m paying the same thing that someone who has a 3,000-square-foot house is paying to get a service,” he said.
City Attorney Scott Walker said that this change probably could not be developed in time for the upcoming fiscal year.
The commissioners agreed that accepting the higher assessment rate would prevent the other commissioners from being tied to a decision they did not make.
“We certainly don’t want to do anything that prevents them from having a say,” Marlowe said.
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