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I'd like to see this as a trend. It could lead to consolidation of districts and reduce redundancy. Taxpayers in Coventry were being asked to vote something like a 30% increase for the FD pensions, etc.
I see both sides.. however, their taxes would have gone up $300-$500 per year from what I've read. Which is about the same as their homeowner's insurance will increase since many will be more than 5 miles from a FD. I think I would have preferred to pay the extra and have a FD in case my house burned down or I was having a heart attack. But at this point it's just Monday morning quarterbacking.
5. How far away is the fire department? If the home is more than five miles from a fire station, your rates will likely start rising, says Dawn Roberts, general manager of LeDoux Insurance Agency in Eugene, Ore. They might jump by 20% to 240%, depending on the home's distance from a station or hydrants.
Even if it's only a couple of hundred dollars, I think that would be outweighed by the potential of death by fire due to longer response times. Either way, if they stayed open and taxes went up or they close and homeowner's insurance went up, I think it will play out when the first person dies due to longer response time, that's all I was saying. I don't have a dog in the fight, just relaying things I've read.
Really??? Homeowners insurance goes up $500 a year if more than 5 miles from a fire department? I'm rather skeptical...
Take a look at your own homeowner's insurance policy. The rates for insurance will definitely go up, if people can find insurance in the first place. The other big problem is the response time increase. Be that as it may be, we'll probably see legislation passed next week giving the taxing authority to the town or something similar. And then, taxes will go up again to fund the district. But this time, no vox populi.
I wouldn't like to see it as a trend. It only happened because something shady/incompetent was going on and they burned through their budget and thought the money was never ending. Other fire departments manage to live within their budgets.
Maybe people who live in rural districts could weigh in on what their insurance costs are? I'm sure many don't live within 5 mi of a fire station. What about areas like Foster where the FD is volunteer?
Sandsonik- you make a good point. Coventry tax payers were sick of getting raked over.
The thing is all FDs are regional in the sense that any large fire calls in engines from other districts. How much redundancy do we really need?
The thing is all FDs are regional in the sense that any large fire calls in engines from other districts. How much redundancy do we really need?
While it is true that other fire districts lend aid in times of need, this is based on reciprocal mutual aid agreements. Since the Central Coventry District may cease to exist in two weeks, this mutual aid will no longer be applicable, after all, Central Coventry itself won't be able to extend any aid anymore. It remains to be seen what the other fire districts will do at that point.
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