(Posted Oct. 5, 2016)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
The Tri-County Joint Fire District is on the Nov. 8 ballot, asking voters to renew a 2.5-mill operating levy for another five years.
“With the money coming in, we are able to operate under that without needing to ask for additional money,” said Chief Dave Taylor.
The fire district covers 118 square miles, providing fire protection to all of Mount Sterling and Pleasant Township in Madison County and all of Darby Township in Pickaway County, as well as contracted fire protection to part of Monroe Township in Pickaway County and part of Madison Township in Fayette County.
Revenues from the levy and contracted services make up the district’s entire budget.
According to the Madison County Auditor’s Office, the 2.5-mill levy generates $420,166 per year. The cost to the taxpayer per $100,000 of property valuation is $65.84 per year. These figures will stay the same if the levy is renewed.
Voters have traditionally supported the fire district’s levy requests.
“The support has been great. We’ve never had a levy fail,” said Taylor, who has worked for the district since 1982 and served as chief since 1990.
Taylor is one of four full-time staff members. The rest of the crew is made up of 25 volunteer fire fighters.
“We provide excellent service for being a combination department with volunteers. It saves the taxpayers a lot of money,” he said.
The district has made over 262 runs so far in 2016 and typically makes 300 to 350 runs each year. A four-member board serves as the district’s governing body.
Levy funds go to personnel costs, utility bills, equipment and apparatus maintenance and purchases, and maintenance of the station, located at 7 W. Columbus St. in Mount Sterling,
For more information about the fire district, call the station at (740) 869-2643.
