Taxes – Every Rule Has an Exception

    My general rule is to be VERY hesitant to support new taxes, but the December 6th vote for a modest new tax supporting the Central Fire Department is going to have to be an exception to my rule, and here is why: The CFD uses our tax dollars wisely, provides excellent fire protection, and is fully involved and supportive of most every community effort in our city.
    Governments and agencies, in general, do not operate like a business or even like our families.  Rather than finding ways to economize, spend smarter, or even do without luxuries, governments like to just tax their way into whatever spending they want to do.  Take an hour and listen to Central Fire Department’s Chief Bill Porche explain their budgets, and you will understand without any doubt that our fire department provides maximum services for minimum tax dollars.
    As to fire protection and emergency calls for assistance, the response times in Central are consistently excellent, and sometimes amazing.  Let me get slightly off topic and also extend a word of thanks to the Pride and Chaneyville fire departments who provide services to the most rural and hard to reach areas of Central.
    I have seen exactly what the proposed additional millage will do for the Central Fire Department, and that is to provide more firefighters around the clock to improve Central’s fire protection.  There are no fancy offices, no pay for board members, no travel on the taxpayer’s dime, and no perks built in to this tax, just more feet in the street to keep Central safe.
    I could support this tax solely for the reasons above, but one last fact seals the deal for me;  The Central Fire Department supports everything in Central, every time they have the chance.  If you never have a fire or a medical emergency and need the CFD, that would be a great thing, but you can still count on them to be there just in case, or to be there supporting your favorite charitable or civic event.
    These men and women are our friends, family and neighbors, and this modest tax will make their jobs safer and improve their already excellent response times.  Hats off to the handful of men and women who created the Central Volunteer Fire Department from nothing, and hats off to the professionals who have taken that department to the level we see today.  Having the CFD in Central is Good News for a Great City.