The Value of Volunteers
Our department is 100% volunteer. Our members are
not paid or reimbursed for any of their time or
expenses. Here are some facts about how much money
volunteers save taxpayers:
-
A paid fire company with 5 people
costs approximately $900,000 per year to operate.
-
We provide as many as 40 people and
4 fire trucks for free.
-
Volunteers respond 24 hours a day, 7
days a week. We do not have holidays or days off.
-
Our members spent 1,342 hours
at fire and EMS incidents in 2005.
-
All of our members are trained to
the same standards as paid firefighters.
-
Our members spent 1,511 hours
training in 2005.
It is important that you realize there is
not a tax in Mecklenburg County that provides money for the
volunteer fire departments. If we were to close, your taxes
may or may not increase. However, your insurance costs would
at least double! Mecklenburg County provides us a small
monthly subsidy. However, if you do not contribute to the
fire department, we are essentially providing our services
for free! Have you donated you share?
Learn how to support the fire
department.
The Boston Globe Recently
published a report about the alarming trend of increased
response times and decreased staffing in fire departments
nationwide. This report relates directly to Mecklenburg
County. The examples given for the greater Boston area are
almost identical to the situation here. Please take time to
read the reports.
Boston Globe Report on Resources and Firefighter Deaths
ISO is an independent organization that serves insurance
companies, fire departments, insurance regulators, and
others by providing information about risk. Their field
staff visits communities around the country to analyze their
fire protection abilities and assign a Public Protection
Classification - a number from 1 to 10. Class 1
represents exemplary fire protection, and Class 10 indicates
that the area's fire-suppression program does not meet ISO's
minimum criteria.
ISO Study of Effective Fire Protection
Contact Mecklenburg County
Commissioners
If you have read the above reports
and are concerned about you fire protection, please contact these commissioners to let them know how you
feel about the funding for Mecklenburg County volunteer fire departments:
District 3 Representative
At-Large Representatives
|
How much does it cost to run a fire
department? |
At a fire call - how much does it cost?
At a rescue call - how much does it cost?
|
|
2008 Projected Major Expenditures |
|
New Engine Loan payment: |
$60,000 |
|
Insurance: |
$14,000 |
|
Fire & EMS Equipment & Supplies: |
$15,000 |
|
Apparatus Maintenance: |
$10,000 |
|
Utilities: |
$7,000 |
|
Communications Equipment: |
$4,000 |
|
Fuel: |
$6,000 |
Total: $116,000
|
2004 Major Income |
| Mecklenburg County Subsidy |
$79,500 |
| Community Contributions |
$8,000 |
Total: $87,500
|
Are you interested in becoming a member?
Learn how you can give back to
the community. |
