Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Emergency Services Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sponsor to refine proposal to put volunteer fire-department dues on county tax rolls after questions
Summary
Senator Hammer outlined a bill to place volunteer fire-department dues on county tax rolls to improve collection rates; chiefs testified such collections increase receipts, and the sponsor agreed to draft amendments addressing dues limits and safeguards before returning to committee.
Senator Hammer presented a bill intended to standardize collection of volunteer fire-department dues by placing assessments on county tax rolls. He said the change is meant to address fairness and improve collection, not to set or raise local dues. Hammer said the bill would also require quorum courts that reject a petition to respond in writing within 60 days explaining their decision.
Volunteer fire chiefs testified that county-collector collection programs have substantially increased receipts for some departments; David Steele said that using the county collector produced collection rates of about 98% compared with far lower voluntary collections. Committee members raised concerns about local boards setting unusually high dues, whether dues would be subject to county approval if above a threshold, and protections for property owners. Senator Hammer agreed to work on amendments and meet with stakeholders; the sponsor pulled the bill to draft changes and planned to return later in the day.
