MARTINSBURG, W.Va. – Fire fees could go up if the Berkeley County Council gets some help from the West Virginia legislature.
Last year, a move to triple the fire fees for county homeowners was defeated when it was opposed in court. The idea has since been tabled.
Under current law, ten percent of eligible voters have to sign a petition in order for fire fees to be raised. Berkeley County Administrator Alan Davis was a guest on WEPM’s Panhandle Live.
“There is no other fee on the books right now anywhere in the state that requires the ten percent approval of registered voters.”
Davis said the Berkeley County Council recently asked the state legislature to instead allow them to raise fire fees in a similar way as water and sewer fees are increased, by holding public hearings and deciding whether the rates should increase.
Two of the five stations in the county have requested more manpower from the Council. Davis said he trusts the Council’s judgment.
“I personally think the council and the other local elected officials should have that discretion and if the constituency doesn’t like the decisions that the elected officials make, then guess what? You vote them out of office.”
No word on whether the legislature has taken up the idea this session.
Wednesday is crossover day in the legislative session.
Story by WEPM’s Marsha Chwalik