Departments appreciative of local tax
Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Company
Ryan Hanchosky, chief of Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Company, said the department began approaching municipal leaders about fire taxes in 2021. The department's 25 active members cover Slippery Rock and West Liberty boroughs and the townships of Worth, Slippery Rock, Cherry and Mercer, and part of Brady.
“We knew we had to do something. We knew we couldn't (raise money) by ourselves,” Hanchosky said. “We can't have fundraisers every other week. I'd like to see firefighters focus on training instead of showing up for fish dinners every week.”
Hanchosky said the need for funds stems from increasing prices of equipment and inspections. Hanchosky said some of the millage money will go toward upgrading rescue tools.
“We spend $500 in fuel a month alone. We just had a truck inspected, it's $500 per truck ... things aren't cheap anymore,” Hanchosky said.
According to the chief, most municipalities approached about the tax were understanding of the struggles departments are facing.
“At first, they were hesitant; no one wants to hear 'tax,'” Hanchosky said. “They understand times are tough and want to support us.”
Slippery Rock Township recently implemented a fire tax of 1.5 mills, which translates to roughly $11 per average citizen annually.According to Supervisor Paul Dickey, in previous years the township gave a donation to the fire company. He said the supervisors thought the tax was a good idea.“If you don't support the local fire department, you end up paying for one, and that's a lot more expensive than giving to (them),” Dickey said.Shawn Pugh, Slippery Rock borough manager, said although a fire tax previously was in place, the borough council upped its millage from 1.165 to 1.25 for 2022.“Our budget comes first, we need to have enough to keep the lights on, but whatever is left over we always give to the fire department. We think the world of the fire department,” Pugh said.Not every municipality approached by the Slippery Rock fire company implemented a tax this year.At Worth Township's meeting Dec. 8, the board voted to table the discussion of a fire tax until 2023.The department had proposed a 2-mill tax, which would have generated $25,000 annually.The township does not have a fire tax in place.However, the supervisors made a $10,000 donation to the fire department, and Supervisor Fred Brezel said the discussion isn't over.“They need it,” Brezel said. “We can't incorporate the fire tax at this time; I think it'd be a burden on our township residents.”Hanchosky said his company always is in need of volunteer firefighters.“I would never say no to help,” Hanchosky said. “Volunteer fire service is a dying breed.”Harmony Fire District
The Harmony Fire District, which was created with the merger of Zelienople Fire Department and Harmony Volunteer Fire Company in 2015, covers Harmony and Zelienople boroughs and Lancaster and Jackson townships.According to Kevin Behun, president of the district, all but Jackson Township raised their fire tax to 3 mills.Jackson raised it to 2.5 mills. Township manager Chris Rearick said the 1-mill increase will meet what the fire district sought when it first met with Jackson about a new station.“The township was honoring the spirit of that by raising it by a mill. Since that time, the value of a mill has increased to what a mill-and-a-half would have been,” Rearick said. “We were honoring the spirit of that request by providing a mill, which will only grow.”According to Pennsylvania law, a fire tax cannot exceed 3 mills without a referendum.Behun said his department brought up a millage increase a few years ago, as the district is planning to build a new fire station.“(The municipalities) saw it coming; we hold quarterly meetings ... they constantly know we need more support from them,” Behun said.According to Behun, the townships and boroughs the district covers denied raising the millage last year, saying all of them would raise it or none of them would.Construction of the new building is set to begin this summer, according to Behun. It will have five engine bays and two small vehicle bays.“We're waiting for word from the state on some grants,” Behun said. “We've been rather successful with fundraisers, but it will not be enough to secure loans needed.”With funds secured, Behun said their next biggest concern is staffing. The district has 15 members that meet requirements of interior firefighters and 30 active members.“Hands down, our biggest issue is having enough people to respond to the calls,” Behun said.Prospect-Franklin Township Volunteer Fire DepartmentThe Prospect-Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Department is in a similar position as Harmony Fire District — it needs a new fire station.According to Chief Nathan Blackwood, the department will need a guaranteed $78,000 annually to secure a bank loan to put toward the building.“It's in pretty bad shape,” Blackwood said of the current station. “We agreed our building has exhausted its use. The funds will be strictly for a building for now.”Franklin Township and Prospect borough added a 2-mill fire tax to go toward the department.“The borough was very supportive initially. The township was more hesitant; they wanted more paperwork,” Blackwood said.According to Herman Bauer, a supervisor of Franklin Township, the 2 mills will generate $55,000 annually for the department.Like so many other companies in the area, Blackwood said the revenue from the tax will allow his 30 members to train more frequently.“I'd like to see my guys focus on training instead of fundraising,” Blackwood said.Connoquenessing Volunteer Fire CompanyThe Connoquenessing Volunteer Fire Company has two major projects on its agenda, according to Chief Lou Zimmerman Jr.The increase from a half-mill to a 2-mill fire tax in Connoquenessing Township will be a tremendous help to get a new fire engine and construct a building.The fire department also is receiving 2 mills from Connoquenessing borough, which increased it from 0.75 mill in the summer of 2021.“There's an obvious need to replace an engine; it's a 1994,” Zimmerman said. “We approached the borough and township in 1993 for a guaranteed source of income for a new engine in 1993.”Zimmerman said the station holds four vehicles in three bays, and all of the engines need to be customized to be able to fit inside the current building.“It increases the cost of the vehicle to customize it,” Zimmerman said. “It's a safety factor. Our firefighters are dressing 18 inches from the wheels of that engine. It's always been in the back of my mind that someone might get hurt.”Zimmerman said they were recently able to update their firefighter gear. It cost $4,000 per suit, which included boots, pants, a coat and helmet.At the township's Dec. 28 meeting, Supervisor Terry Steinheiser said, “We all need them. We don't want to lose them.”He noted the community's support for the millage increase.“As a public safety aspect, it's a very minimal charge for fire protection,” Zimmerman said.Zimmerman said smart savings and applying for grants have allowed the fire company to update its breathing apparatuses in the past.The funds generated from the millage increase will be a good starting point for their future projects, according to Zimmerman.“I know it's not enough to do both projects,” he said. “Now we can get a good concrete number on getting that building constructed. This is a 50-year endeavor — we've been trying to put a building out there.”
