www.wboc.com/news/delaware-counties-could-impose-fire-protection-fee-if-carney-signs-off/article_d765e7d4-2ce3-11ef-9902-f37b45aa8b85.html
Delaware Counties Could Impose 'Fire Protection Fee' if Carney Signs Off
PoliticsDE firefighter here. This has been in the works for awhile now. DE fire companies are struggling with both funding and staffing for some time. Some departments have even talked about consolidating into one organization to save on costs. Ultimately, it’s going to come down finding enough funding to add career staff to supplement the lack of volunteers.
Which is more proof that it is time for the counties to start the long-term planning of taking over the system.
Consolidation into three countywide systems is inevitable, regardless of how much kicking the can down the road the counties attempt to perform trying to get out of actually having to supply a service for the tax money they are collecting.
Look for MAJOR pushback from the local VFDs, especially in Sussex. Those roles are like crowns for the hillbillies.
Yeah, one of the southern Sussex companies has already written a letter and is requesting other fire companies sign off on it about not wanting the county to get involved with the funding.
86-15
Thanks for your insight on this contention issue. I'm leaning on the side of the firefighters just like I would with the schools during a referendum. I can pay a bit more in taxes to make fire fighting in my area faster and safer.
Is the Christiana fire company all volunteer? I ask because that firehouse is BUSY! All day long I hear their sirens.
No, they’re a combination department, so they have both paid staff and volunteers staffing the firehouse. Most firehouses in New Castle County are now combination.
Thank you
Maybe stop relying on all-volunteer firefighters and pay people what they're worth? It's a tough job with crazy hours and incredible stress. Pay them well, keep them trained and well-equipped, then let them retire after 20 years of service. If anybody deserves that, it's firefighters, medics, and teachers.
Retire after 20 years? Where do I sign up?
The jobs are all over the state and easy to get. Just better be ready to take a big pay cut and figure out how to live your same life off of it, that’s why they have so many vacancies
So you won't be able to retire after 20 years.
Exactly. You can if you are a super minimalist, I have one coworker that is currently at 19 years and will retire and start collecting her pension and health care benefits after this year. But she has just one kid who’s an adult, doesn’t travel, and doesn’t go out. So some can retire after 20 years, but that’s not the life I and most people want
Have you met a volunteer firefighter before? This is their red badge of courage. Don't even think about paying them, or taking it away and paying somebody else.
They need to be paid full time positions regardless of funding. It’s insane we ask people to volunteer for this job.
Do we? I never asked.
Didn't DE have a billion dollar surplus?
Carney can go fuck himself
All the new developments need to be assessed fees at the outset.
I’m fine with a tax increase specifically for funding the fire department
You know, back in the day you purchased "fire insurance." If your house caught fire, and you had insurance, fire department took care of it. If you didn't, you either pay up X amount or watch the property burn.
That seems like a better option. I would also wish that I would get a reduction in my homeowners insurance for this.
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