North Bench Volunteer Fire Department will hold a town hall meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday, September 15, at NBVFD Station 1, 64464 Highway 2 East, Three Mile, to address an issue long-time chief Gary Gage raised decades ago … well before there was a fire taxing district in Boundary County. Today, NBVFD is the only “membership” fire department in the county. And it isn’t working.
Pay your dues and your neighbors, volunteers and all locally and extensively trained at their own expense before they are allowed to don turnouts, will board the fire truck and race to your house, barn, farm or woodlot and do their utmost to save your loved ones, your property, your stock, your pets.
As a reporter here, I watched a first responder at a house fire try to puff life back into a guinea pig as the little girl who loved him begged. Her pet died and she and the EMT cried together.
Except in the minds of those volunteers, those days are ended.
“As many already know, membership dues payments continue to remain at a level that is not sustainable to support the operations and needs of the district, remaining at less than 50-percent of our total membership paying,” chief Kenny Baker writes. “Budget review and consideration of district needs has painted a clear picture; we are nearing a turning point in the way the district collects funding to remain operational. This is your opportunity as a member to participate in the outcome and the impact this has on you.
What does this look like? Continued lack of voluntary membership funding has failed to meet the district’s needs for decades. It is not a stable means of funding that can be counted on and has consistently failed to keep up with the growth of the district.
The historically unpopular option of forming a taxing district is shaping up to be the logical option, ensuring all residents and businesses pay their fair share. Other options, should the membership fail to agree on a tax-based funding option, leave the district residents and businesses open to skyrocketing insurance rates should there be no fire service coverage, or possible take-over from a neighboring tax district that will implement that districts tax rates.
“We are in control of our future, for now,” Baker said. “This decision and what happens in the near future is up to our membership.”
The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss and share the realities of the issues at hand.
“We look forward to engaging with you at the town hall meeting and taking your input, questions and suggestions, “Baker said.