Commissioners Propose Two Cent Tax Increase for Fire Departments

By ANDY BEHLEN  Fayette County Commissioners Court agreed to propose a two-cent increase to the county property tax theat would be dedicated to the ten volunteer fire departments in the county. If approved, the tax would provide about $500,000, based on last year’s property values, which would be split between the departments.

“You have to go back to your home districts and sell this to the folks,” Janecka said at a Commissioners Court meeting on Monday, July 25. “It’s kind of a tough year, with the (property) evaluations changing. We are just a conduit, the five of us up here. If this is something the public wants to do, then we would pass it, but I’m just speaking for myself.”

The fire chiefs had proposed a four-cent tax, which would have amounted to $1 million in new revenue. Commissioners Gary Weishuhn, Jason McBroom and Tom Muras instead called for a one-cent tax. 

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