NBVFD plans for taxing district are ill-advised

The North Bench Volunteer Fire District had a board and a chief who closely managed a budget for years, made sure we purchased wisely, never spent more than we could afford, and still set money aside in savings accounts.

The current board and chief do not want to live within a budget based on their income from dues collected; instead, their solution is to become a taxing district.  This would enable them to double and even triple the current budget — from approximately $200,000 to a proposed ideal budget of $670,000.

In addition, they have been very disingenuous about the whole issue.  They’ve said "let the people decide" yet they ignore the fact that on more than one occasion the people have overwhelmingly stated that we are not in favor of becoming a taxing district.  And as you know, once we change from dues-based to a taxing district, the amount will never decrease, the tax will never go away, and new tax levy increases will be proposed regularly.  Many in this district simply cannot afford for this to happen.

Our goal is to support our volunteer firefighters.  Period.  We want them to have nice things, but we have to be practical.  We don’t need more money to do this; we need to spend sensibly.  If the current board can’t do this, we need board members who can.

JEANINE BETSHER

Moyie Springs