Tax rate rises for West Shore Fire District

Tax rate rises for West Shore Fire District

Mark Zaretsky, Register Staff

May 06, 2003

WEST HAVEN — The West Shore Fire District has adopted a $5.56 million budget for fiscal 2003-04 that will raise the tax rate by half a mill, Fire Commission Chairman John Kelly said Monday.

The board set the district’s tax rate at 7.5 mills.

With the city’s new 36.74-mill tax rate, when West Shore taxpayers get tax bills next month, they will see a total 1.62-mill tax-rate increase and a total tax rate of 44.24 mills. The city increased its tax rate by 1.12 mills last week.

Each mill represents $1 for every $1,000 in assessed property value.

The city’s other two independent fire districts, the Center and Allingtown districts, have yet to set tax rates.

The Center District, served by the West Haven Fire Department, will hold its annual meeting to adopt a budget and set its tax rate at 8 tonight at Savin Rock Community School.

The Center District commis-sioners will present a $9.26 million budget that will call for a 1.9-mill increase, raising the tax rate to 10.69 mills, Chief William S. Johnson said. Center District property owners would see a total tax rate of 47.43 mills.

The Allingtown Fire District will hold its annual meeting May 13 at the Admiral Street firehouse. The commissioners will present a $3.81 million budget that will call for no tax increase, keeping the tax rate at 10.35 mills, Chief Elmer Henderson said. Allingtown’s tax rate would total 47.09 mills.

Kelly said West Shore’s tax increase resulted from contractual increases, including higher medical benefit costs and contributions to the department’s pension plan. The nearly 50 residents who attended the West Shore District’s annual meeting Friday night approved the budget.

"Nobody’s happy when your taxes go up, but I think they understood," Kelly said. "I think we’re stepping up our service as well."

Among other things, the West Shore Fire Department will begin implementing its own paramedic program, Kelly said.

At the meeting, voters also approved the nomination of Bob Pimer to replace Frank Hawley on the Board of Fire Commissioners, lly said. Hawley opted not to seek another term after nine years on the board.

"We’re going to miss Mr. Hawley …" Kelly said. "The West Shore was really fortunate to have him for that long."

Pimer, a longtime former volunteer firefighter who will take office July 1, "was a natural fit and I think he’ll do real well," Kelly said.

In the Center District, Commissioner Bruce Sweeney is seeking another term. If anyone opposes Sweeney, an election would take place May 17, Johnson said.

In Allingtown, two commissioners’ positions will be up for grabs in an election May 17.

Mark Zaretsky can be reached at mzaretsky@nhregister.comor 789-5722.