Higher taxes and fire fees

Dear Editor,

Over the past year, county officials proposed and county council discussed a plan to radically change the structure of fire protection in Pickens County. For decades, we had 13 local fire districts with a chief and a local board for each district. Most districts charged only a fire fee on homes, and a few charged millage on all property.

Their plan is to abolish all the 13 fire boards, have one centralized board, the county to take ownership of all fire equipment and charge a 30-mill fire tax on all property. The benefits they cite are centralized management, streamline operations, build a comprehensive capital plan, more manpower and better training. They also say it will save money, but looking at the proposal, that is not true and they need to be upfront and honest with the

You must be logged in to view this content.