04/07/2025
Tomorrow is Election Day, remember to vote! We have had several last minute questions that we would like to share along with the answers to them. Will the cost of tags stay steady or continue to raise in the future?
When the district passes the Fire tags will no longer be sold. All fire protection will be paid for by the tax money generated by the district. If it does not pass, nothing will change the fire department will stay under the control of the city and the city board has the authority to raise the fire tag costs as they see fit. Seeing some of the anticipated costs to the city to maintain the fire department needs it would be fair to say that there is a real good chance the board could decide to raise the costs of the fire tags in the near future. Thanks for the question.
With the fire departments get a higher rating will that lower our insurance premiums?
If we were to lose any of our trucks pumping capacity, we could potentially lose our Class 4 and drop to a Class 5 and local insurance agents have told us to go from a class 4 to a class 5 is potentially a 10% increase in homeowner's insurance. The best way to maintain our Class 4 is to replace equipment and trucks before the lose their certification. The Ste Genevieve County Fire District group could better speak on what will happen outside the Ste Genevieve City FD coverage area, but I can tell you that we are attending meetings with the ISO and representatives from the county group and the ISO told the group that if the other 6 departments combine the would have a district wide ISO Class 6. Class 6 would benefit several departments that are currently rated Class 8s, 1 is a class 7 and a couple are Class 6. Countywide it would be an overall improvement and potentially save on homeowner's insurance but that is ultimately up to the individual insurance companies. One of the local agents told us the following "Paying the tax would invest in the local area, if the ISO drops and you pay more insurance, that money goes to someone sitting behind a desk in another town and does not benefit our Community." We hope this answers your question, if not please reach out. Thanks for the question.
How about making everyone pay the same amount. Keep the fire tags and start charging 10-15k per call if someone hasn’t paid their tags.
We have explored every other currently known funding source that includes applying for and receiving around $750,000 in grants that have been used to try to keep some of our equipment up to date. With the current government system there are no longer as many grants available. Without these grants, our department would be even further behind. As far as charging $10k+ for a response, within the city limits there is no current charge because your taxes support the fire department through the general revenue of the city budget. There is a response charge for responses outside the city but there is a state statute that limits the amount a fire department can charge for a response. Title XXI PUBLIC SAFETY AND MORALS
Chapter 321
< > Effective - 28 Aug 1990 bottom
321.622. Responding to fires or emergencies beyond corporate boundaries, exception — liabilities for claims, death or injuries — charges for responding. — 1. Fire protection districts, when asked to respond to fires or other emergencies beyond its corporate boundaries may charge for those services rendered.
2. When formal mutual aid agreements are in place with adjoining areas and departments, this provision is not applicable except by formal agreement and contract with the adjoining department.
3. In responding to fires or other emergencies outside the corporate boundaries of a fire protection district, the fire protection district responding and its firefighters shall be subject to the same liabilities for claims for death or injury to persons or property as those subjected to when responding to fires or emergencies within their respective fire protection district.
4. In responding to fires or emergencies outside the corporate boundaries of the fire protection district, the fire protection district responding may charge up to the following fees:
(1) One hundred dollars for responding to each fire call or alarm;
(2) Five hundred dollars for each hour or a proportional sum for each quarter hour spent in combating a fire or emergency.
5. No property owner shall be liable for fees or charges under this section if the property owner has previously entered into an agreement with the fire protection district in writing, prior to the occurrence of the fire or emergency.
Okay, I believe once it goes through it will stay as other taxes we voted for. Does it say for one year- five years it’s not specified, I know the fire department and ems are very important and I appreciate all the work they all do. There has to be another way to raise funding. I personally don’t want to vote for more taxes regardless.
Thank you for the question. This tax will not a have “sunset” which mean it will go indefinitely. As the demand and cost of operation for the fire department continues to increase the need for secured funding will not go away. Your volunteer firefighters have discussed every possible manner of funding and this is the only secure and viable option. We understand not wanting more taxes. If you go to the Friends of Ste. Genevieve Fire District page you will see some of the financial hurdles we face which are just too much to overcome with fundraiser.
Thank you all for your support!
