First, I would like to thank you for your hard work and dedication serving the State of West Virginia. And Thank You for your time to read and understand the importance of this e-mail.
As you may know, we have been following this years session with a microscope, as are many people in our state. Senate Bill 168 relating to surcharge on fire and casualty insurance policies to fund our fire departments. This potential legislative change would be a major step forward in protecting life, property and advancing to a goal of releasing the financial hardship to hundreds of departments in this state.
In the recent years, our cost for protecting our citizens have risen by as much as 400 to 600%. Let this sink in for a second. To appropriately dress a fire fighter in new gear, the minimum cost is around $3,500.00. This price doesn't include top notch protection. Add the cost of maintaining and purchasing Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), fuel, note payments for apparatus, insurance, utility payments, internet, hand tools,yearly hose and ladder inspection, pump and hose testing, training cost, Fire Prevention at our Public Schools, recruitment and retainment of members, and a small department of even our size has a yearly budget in excess of $125,000.00 being very conservative! While we are very appreciative of the help our friends in government have provided, this potential increase in funding couldn't come at a better time.
West Virginia State Fire Marshal, Ken Tyree is also backing the legislation now in your committee. A recent legislative study has shown that our volunteer and career fire departments are extremely underfunded on ALL levels of government. The highlight and most alarming aspects of the study came to the conclusion :
* VFD's are CLEARLY underfunded on all sides of government.
* Workers Compensation models are unsustainable
* Membership is declining (24.7% decrease since 2005 and trending downward - Source WVU Extension Service, Dr. Kelly Nix)
* VFD's are essential to our communities
* VFD's rate of return is well over 271:1 per dollar invested.
* VFD's in West Virginia are in danger of extinction if NOTHING IS DONE.
Over the last 15 to 20 years, we have watched our funding from other areas dwindle. Gifts from corporations, and citizens have almost ceased in a lot of cases. The move from an old fire locator system, to a more modern 911 Mapping and Addressing has helped with response, but we have lost the ability to count on the small locator fees accompanied by the previous system. Our departments have been fundraising their butts off! Hosting Baked Steak and Spaghetti Dinners, to boot drives and fundraising letters, and simply we will still fall very short on funding.
We understand by making a change to the Fire Surtax from 0.55% TO 1%, other groups and such may ask, "Well what about us, we want something like that too.", but let's be honest. They simply do NOT do what WE do. We as Volunteer and Career firefighters, drop what we are doing at a moments notice to help our neighbors and businesses in need. We stop eating dinner, or coaching little league. We sometimes fall short on church services, or even spending time with our families to put other people first. We get out of bed to help the WVDOH in the middle of the night, or to assist your friends and constituents 24 hours a day. Is it too much to ask, that we be able to provide these services with an ease of at least knowing our Legislators are with us? We are not asking for a hand out, but we are asking for HELP as our cost of doing business keeps skyrocketing, along with our level of services.Just take a look at what we ALL did, without hesitation this last summer during the time of need in this great state! All politicians campaign on helping our emergency personnel, and now the time is long overdue.
And let's be clear as well. This change in the surtax isn't the only answer to maintain fire protection for our citizens,but this is definitely a start in "righting the ship" so to speak. It also may be the most important piece of the puzzle to assisting fire departments.We, as VFD's have always been asked to do more with less, and hundreds of VFD's are at the breaking point. I ask each of you move this legislation OUT of the committee and present it to the Senate for passage. Then urge the House Of Delegates to do so as well! Our citizens, both Republican, Democrat or no affiliation depend on us, and WE depend on you.
Thank your again for your help! We are proud to call you part of our TEAM!
Please pass this letter along to your colleagues and help support the corner stone of our communities. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. We look forward to your response!
