Fire District 11 asking voters to renew a 10-year property tax

Pearl River firefighters will ask voters Tuesday to renew a 10-year property tax for operational expenses, including a raise for firemen and EMTs.

The 10-mill tax, likely to cost residents of a $100,000 home about $25 per year, would expire in 2018, if approved.

Those tax collections however could vary, even cost less at times, when the State Tax Commission certifies roles in the wake of surging property assessments this year. That’s because Pearl River’s fire department, also known as St. Tammany Parish Fire Protection District 11, chose to “rollback” its collections, meaning it won’t collect as much per household as before.

But because more people have moved into the area and assessments have increased, the collections are spread out to more homes, making up the difference, Chief Robert Crowe said.

If approved, the millage would garner about $130,000 a year, or 25 percent of the department’s annual budget.

A portion of the money would increase salaries of firemen from roughly $20,000 a year to about $27,000 a year, Crowe said. EMTs will also see salaries raised from $35,000 a year to $38,000, he said.

“These guys have dedicated their time and effort to making the town of Pearl River a safe place to live,” Crowe said. “They deserve it.”

If the measure were not approved, many firemen would be fired, a move that would increase the Property Insurance Association of Louisiana rating. That rating determines how fast and effective a fire department can quell a fire.

Pearl River’s rating is currently a 2 out of five. The lower the rating the cheaper fire insurance premiums cost.

Crowe estimates an increase in fire insurance of about $200 to $400 yearly if the millage is denied.

“I know everybody is negative on taxes,” he said. “But it’s a renewal. It’s a necessary evil.”