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Commission discusses fire-billing ordinance and fee schedule; attorney to align language with state code
Summary
Pittsylvania County commissioners said an ordinance allowing fire billing exists but the fee schedule still needs approval; an attorney is revising language to reference state code before the association and commission finalize fees.
Pittsylvania County commissioners discussed the status of a fire‑billing ordinance and the outstanding need for a fee schedule during the May 20 meeting.
Commissioners said the ordinance contains language authorizing billing but lacks a fee schedule that insurance companies will recognize. "There was some confusion … the ordinance has the language, but there's no fee schedule," a commissioner said. The group reported that insurance companies had previously refused bills where a county fee schedule was not adopted.
The commission reported that a county attorney is revising the ordinance language to reference state code so the legal basis is clear. The commission’s role will be to develop and recommend a fee schedule to the Board of Supervisors; the board must adopt any final rates. Commissioners said the billing under consideration would be "soft billing" — submitting claims to insurers when available rather than pursuing collection actions against individuals.
No final fee schedule or ordinance vote occurred at the meeting; staff said the attorney is finishing revisions and will circulate the ordinance language and a draft fee schedule for review by the commission and association before submission to the Board of Supervisors.
