Dear editor:
The Lake Hamilton Volunteer Fire Association is trying to sneak in an election that may drastically increase our taxes! With no public meetings or announcements to members, a special election has been scheduled for Feb. 13 (early voting Feb. 6-9 and 12) to convert the voluntary association into a required fire district.
If approved, all property owners in their fire protection area will be required to pay a mandatory additional tax (to them) through our annual property tax assessments.
Many residents cannot afford this tax increase and the new fire district board can increase the tax anytime they vote to do so; holding the same taxing powers as the local school boards.
The goal of this election is to issue bonds (with this guaranteed new revenue) to buy new equipment and increase employment levels. These actions will mean continuing increases in taxes and little control of their internally selected board. Very little is publicly available about their present revenues, expenditures or employee costs.
The Lake Hamilton Volunteer Fire Association is now doing a very good job and approximately 80 percent of eligible property owners are currently paying their voluntary association dues. We do not need more fire boats and high reach ladder trucks, nor more taxes and less control.
Jim Pumphrey
Garland County
Editorial on 01/23/2018