Public Information Meeting #1 on Polk County Fire Plan
PROPOSED PAID/VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT REFERENDUM
FOR UNINCORPORATED POLK COUNTY
Public Information Meeting #1 – October 23, 2014 6:30pm at the Rockmart City Hall, 316 N. Piedmont Ave., Rockmart, GA 30153.
Public Information Meeting #2 – October 30, 2014 6:30pm at the Board of Commissioners Meeting Room (Police Department) 73 Cline-Ingram-Jackson Road, Cedartown, GA 30125.
FACTS:
- The establishment of a Paid/Volunteer Fire Department within Unincorporated Polk County, Georgia will involve a two (2) phased plan that will span a period of 10 years. Phase 1 – (Years 1 – 5); Phase 2 – (Years 6 – 10).
- Phase 1 – During the first two (2) years of this Phase, the Fire Station Districts will be realigned, property will be acquired, and new Fire Stations will be constructed. Currently there are nine (9) Volunteer Fire Station Districts. At the end of this Phase, the Districts will be realigned and reduced to seven (7) Full-Time Paid/Volunteer Districts. The Fire Stations will be positioned so that every home in Unincorporated Polk County will lie within a five (5) mile radius of a Fire Station.
- Phase 1 – Two (2) Full-Time Paid Firemen will be employed per shift, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in four (4) of the new Fire Stations. This means two (2) Paid Firemen will be on duty in four (4) of the new Fire Stations, ready to respond with equipment directly to emergency situations along with the Volunteers. The staffing of Paid Firemen will take place during year three (3) of this phase.
- Phase 1 – Funding for this phase will require a tentative Special Service District (Unincorporated Polk County) millage rate of 2.800 mills. This means unincorporated residents will pay approximately $112 in additional property taxes on a property valued at $100,000. This will be a separate tax in addition to existing county property taxes that will be noted on annual county tax bills.
- Phase 2 - Will consist of staffing the remaining 3 Fire Stations with 2 Full-Time Paid Firemen per shift, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This means all 7 Fire Stations will have 2 Full-Time Paid Firemen per shift ready to respond with equipment directly to emergency situations along with the Volunteers.
- Phase 2 – Funding for this phase will require approximately 2.100 additional mills or $84 additional tax dollars on a property valued at $100,000. This will result in a tentative total annual Special Service District millage rate for years 6 – 10 of 4.900 mills which is equal to approximately $196 annually on a property valued at $100,000. Again, this will be a separate tax in addition to existing county property taxes that will be noted on annual county tax bills.
- After year 10, the Paid/Volunteer Fire Department will be re-evaluated to ensure that adequate Fire Protection is being provided. Additional phases may be added to achieve an adequate level of service.
- Only qualified voters in the Unincorporated Area of Polk County will be eligible to vote on this issue on November 4, 2014. City residents will not be eligible to vote on this issue.
- Increased Tax Digest Values and Grant opportunities could serve to reduce or offset millage increases during and after the phased-in fire protect plan.
- Visit www.polkgeorgia.org for Frequently Asked Questions and additional information about the proposed Paid/Volunteer Fire Department for Unincorporated Polk County.
- Like us on Facebook at Polk County, GA Government.
Public Information Meeting #1 on Polk...
Date and Time
Thursday Oct 23, 2014
6:30 PM - 6:30 PM EDT
October 23, 2014
6:30 pm
Location
Rockmart City Hall
316 N. Piedmont Ave.
Rockmart, GA 30153