The School District and the Fire District are in the same district. Therefore, on May 9, they have combined the two ballots to help both districts save money.

Chief Chambers explains, “Each voter/taxpayer will be asked to mark their Italy School Board selections at the top half of the ballot. On the bottom half of the ballot, voters/taxpayers will be asked to vote for an Italy fire District #3 tax increase.”

On behalf of the Italy Fire District #3, Chief Chambers wants voter/taxpayers to know that with recent changes to the State laws, the Fire District will no longer be able to receive financial backing from the EDC (Economic Development Commission). Without the EDC’s assistance, the Fire District will be drastically under budget going into 2009-2010.

To understand exactly how much your Fire District tax would increase, simply review your end of the year statement from 2008-2009. Where it reads, “Ellis County Emergency District #3,” you will see the total amount you spent on the Fire District tax for last year. The totals will approximately range from $20.00 to $30.00. If the proposed tax increase is passed, the year end total would be double the amount on your final 2009-2010 statement.

Therefore, if your total amount of tax paid to the Fire District for all of last year was $23.00, it would increase to $46.00 total on your final statement for next year.

In other words, by voting (For) the Fire District tax increase on May 9, you will only be paying an extra $20.00 to $30.00 over the course of next year.

The list below denotes some of the expenses the Italy Fire Department will be concerned with next year:

• To start, for a firefighter to be fitted head-to-toe with the proper firefighting gear, before rushing into a burning house, the Fire District’s cost per firefighter is $6,500.00.

• A new air pack costs $5,000.

• Bunker gear for one firefighter is $1,500.

• State law requires each air tank be tested once a year at a cost of $100.00.

• State law requires each bunker gear to be tested at least once a year at a cost of $350.00. It also cost several hundred dollars to have bunker gear cleaned.

• There are currently 18 dedicated, volunteer firemen willing to put their own safety on the line to keep us safe.

• The required pump test for one fire truck ranges from $2,000.00 to $3,000.00.

• Fuel, vehicle maintenance and training are constant expenses.

• The Fire District desperately needs to replace an older brush truck and hopes to build a larger fire station in the near future.

Although the above list doesn’t mention every expense that will be incurred over the course of the upcoming year, it’s obvious that the requested tax increase will be vital to maintain the quality of fire protection we all have been so proud to have in Italy.

Regardless of the outcome, the Italy Fire Department is committed to providing the best quality fire service possible. However, the department wants to keep all the firemen safe and would appreciate your continued support with a vote For the proposed tax increase on May 9.

As a reminder, the School District and the Fire District are in the same district so everyone in the Italy School District is allowed to vote on this issue.