The Aurora Volunteer Fire Department is not just for Aurora, but also covers a small portion of the town of Ledyard. The fire district, as set up by state law, covers 683 tax parcels for the purpose of levying for income. Look at your Aurora or Ledyard property tax bill to see the line item for your fire district tax. This division of fire districts is true of many of the other towns in this or other counties, but it has to be confusing to keep the fire taxes levied, equitable for all taxable parcels.
The Aurora Volunteer Fire Department is one of the best-equipped and manned volunteer departments in all of Cayuga County.
Many Aurora and Ledyard residents have stepped up to fill fire, ambulance and EMT slots, and the organization is a vibrant part of the community.
Like any other business, capital equipment wears out and needs to be replaced from time to time, and manpowers are constantly coming and going.
No one denies the need and expense of new equipment, whether it be fireproof work clothes, oxygen rigs, tools or trucks.
In addition, every resident really appreciates the ambulance crew that takes a loved one to the hospital.
Truly, if the village changed the system from a volunteer to paid fire department, there would be an unacceptable increase in the total annual cost per property parcel.
Therefore, we trust our fire protection to a magnificent volunteer fire department. However, we still have to understand and approve of capital expense equipment cost to the fire district.
Sadly, there has been underwhelming interest in major capital expenses in all fire districts, statewide, and the result has been massive spending without full understanding and approval of all property owners who would be affected by the outlays. More taxpayers need to get at least interested and/or involved.
The Aurora Fire District has a major ladder truck purchase coming up for review and approval in April. The cost, of nearly a half million dollars, will be assessed to all taxable parcels in the village of Aurora, and the town of Ledyard covered, over a 30-year period.
Tax exempt parcels in the village and the town, will not have to pay any tax for this required equipment.
Concerned taxpayers should be asking questions of the fire district commissioners, as the assessment will be heavy.
Just another Aurora Ledyard story. Stay tuned.
William Dugan is former supervisor for the town of Ledyard.
Many Aurora and Ledyard residents have stepped up to fill fire, ambulance and EMT slots, and the organization is a vibrant part of the community.
Like any other business, capital equipment wears out and needs to be replaced from time to time, and manpowers are constantly coming and going.
No one denies the need and expense of new equipment, whether it be fireproof work clothes, oxygen rigs, tools or trucks.
In addition, every resident really appreciates the ambulance crew that takes a loved one to the hospital.
Truly, if the village changed the system from a volunteer to paid fire department, there would be an unacceptable increase in the total annual cost per property parcel.
Therefore, we trust our fire protection to a magnificent volunteer fire department. However, we still have to understand and approve of capital expense equipment cost to the fire district.
Sadly, there has been underwhelming interest in major capital expenses in all fire districts, statewide, and the result has been massive spending without full understanding and approval of all property owners who would be affected by the outlays. More taxpayers need to get at least interested and/or involved.
The Aurora Fire District has a major ladder truck purchase coming up for review and approval in April. The cost, of nearly a half million dollars, will be assessed to all taxable parcels in the village of Aurora, and the town of Ledyard covered, over a 30-year period.
Tax exempt parcels in the village and the town, will not have to pay any tax for this required equipment.
Concerned taxpayers should be asking questions of the fire district commissioners, as the assessment will be heavy.
Just another Aurora Ledyard story. Stay tuned.
William Dugan is former supervisor for the town of Ledyard.
The Citizens' Say
There are 2 comment(s)
country chick wrote on Apr 2, 2008 4:10 PM:
Maybe you should consider being a volunteer fireman to understand how difficult it really is to fund it, how hard it is to work countless hours on FEMA and other grants and then have to sit back and wait to find that your dept. was turned down. How are you going to get the funds for the new airpacks or gear to save a victim trapped in a structure fire, or to get medical equipment to help a person involved in a motor vehicle accident, any scenario….getting a new truck will be the best way to go for all Aurora/Ledyard Fire District tax payers.
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think wrote on Apr 2, 2008 9:22 AM:
How can the AFD be one of the "best-equipped" volunteer departments in Cayuga County if they are down TWO trucks? "