Walker Township and its volunteer fire company have been at odds over funding since 2019 but now consequences may be on the horizon, if negotiations continue to stall.
The fire company says they need more money to function…but they cannot come to terms with the township on how that money would arrive.
The Walker Township Fire Company’s Treasurer, Chris Miller, says they need fire taxes to increase in order to survive…and without more money, they’re in trouble.
“We’re going to have to downsize,” he said would happen if more money doesn’t come. “We can’t keep throwing money into repairing 30 year-old trucks, it doesn’t make financial sense.”
Walker Township Supervisor Deb Zimmerman, who also spoke on behalf of fellow supervisor Keith Harter, says a tax increase is not ideal.
“We have some residents that are very low income, we have a lot of retired people, we have agriculture but we also have some new developments with $400,000 houses in them, so the range of residents in Walker Township is all over the place,” she explained. “Some could afford it, some cannot afford.
The township’s third supervisor, James Heckman, is also a member of the fire company and he says things are getting tense.
“This is the worst dispute I’ve ever seen with the fire company,” he said. “I’m backing the fire company on this and I don’t know what else to say. The other two (supervisors) have their opinions, and that’s up to them.”
The township already provides a one mil fire tax north of $100,000 annually but Miller says more isn’t too much to ask for.
“One mil on my property where I live in the township costs me $65 a year for fire protection. If we increase it to two mils, I’m looking at $130 a year, which is it’s a McDonald’s meal a month for fire protection,” Miller remarked.
Zimmerman says she sees their needs but after the fire company reportedly declined an ordinance to split control of finances with the township, the future is murky.
Zimmerman says she sees their needs but after the fire company reportedly declined an ordinance to split control of finances with the township, the future is murky.
“I know they need equipment, I know they need new trucks. We’d be happy to help them fund it but we just can’t seem to come to an agreement on how that funding will work,” she said.
The fire company will host a public meeting to discuss the issue at their main station, located 125 Fire House Lane in Walker Township, on August 16th at 7 p.m.