Fire Department across Ballard County are asking for your support to pass an ordinance, each fire departments has experienced the same increases that the homeowners of Ballard County have experienced. The cost of insurance premiums, cost of apparatus fuel, utilities, and the cost of equipment has increased and passed onto the Fire Departments without any additional funds to cover the increase operating cost.

            The time has come with the present decline of funds for some departments the future holds uncertainties, for some departments were to experience a major apparatus repair. Where they do not have the funds to repair that the apparatus, that apparatus would not only be able to respond to fires within its own district but would not be able to provide mutual aid to the neighboring Fire Districts.

            If this decline in funds continues, some Fire departments in the county will have to make some hard choices and homeowner insurance premiums could greatly increase.

            We are asking you to support us by having the Membership Dues that the Fire Departments collect each year be added to the property tax bill. This would only cost the property owners of Ballard County (0.12) twelve cents a day.

             This is not a Tax this simply means that when you pay your Property Tax Bill at the Sheriff Office you would pay your Fire Department Membership Dues at the same time instead of receiving a request from the Fire Department each year to send in your Membership Dues.

            This would help the Fire Departments to cut operating cost, no more mailing or handing membership letters asking for Fire Dues. This ordinance will help to provide the necessary funds to the financially stricken department operating for years to come, and provide funds so the departments will be able to apply for State and Federal Matching Grants.

            The Fire Departments of Ballard County do not only respond to fires and Automobile Accidents but several departments have Emergency Medical Technicians and First Responders. Those departments also provide medical care in conjunction with the ambulance service of Ballard County Ambulance prior to the ambulance arriving either at your residence, loved one, neighbor or place of business.

            If this Ordinance fails, Fire Departments will have to consider either reducing the services that they are providing, increase their membership dues, or close their doors, which will place additional strain and expense on the remaining Fire Departments in the county to provide Fire Protection for every citizen of Ballard County.  

            There is no additional cost to the Property-Owner this only changes the way the Membership Dues are collected, and requires everyone to pay their Membership Dues. The citizens of  Ballard County that are in the Rural Fire Districts are only paying for services that are presently being provided and providing the funds for these services to continue.

We thank you for your time in considering this important issue. Please review the following links: Facts of Membership Dues and the Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) so that you may understand what we are asking of you.

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