Letter to the editor: Killing property taxes puts fire departments at risk

As a volunteer firefighter in Kindred, N.D., I can tell you that the majority of our annual budget comes from property taxes. Without property tax money the Kindred Fire Department would be forced to operate on a small stipend from the Insurance Reserve Fund. Nearly half of that will be consumed in fuel to get our apparatus to and from emergency scenes. This leaves approximately 10 percent of our current annual budget to outfit and train personnel, as well as purchase and maintain equipment. That is not even enough to provide personal protective equipment for one firefighter. It would also eliminate our ability to build funds necessary to purchase updated equipment.

Firefighting equipment is vital to protecting life and property in our small towns yet volunteers are forced to depend on antiquated equipment to fight modern fires. Fires that, fueled by plastics and other synthetic materials, burn hotter and faster and produce more toxic fumes than ever before. Unfortunately, it takes years or even decades for rural departments to save enough money to update their equipment even with a property tax levy. In fact, the Kindred Fire Department is still responding with a 1962 International. Yes, our firefighters are being asked to enter structure fires relying on an apparatus that is now 50 years old.

Much of this equipment is extremely specialized and working inside a burning structure presents unusual hazards that require a unique skill set. Not to mention, the volunteer firefighter is also responding to a plethora of other emergencies such as vehicle crashes, farm accidents, wildfires, water emergencies and natural disasters, to name a few. Because of this, the need for training cannot be overstated. Sadly, many departments do not receive adequate training due to current budgetary constraints and the proponents for Measure 2 would ask to reduce that budget even further.

As a taxpayer in North Dakota I would love to see a reduction in my taxes, however, as a volunteer I know we cannot afford it. Please remember that the men and women who volunteer as firefighters are everyday heroes but they are not superheroes. They are your friends, neighbors, parents, siblings and children. They are your family and your community and they need your help to protect not only you, but themselves as well.

Please vote no on Measure 2.

Benjamin Willey

Kindred

Tags: measure 2, opinion, letters, taxes