Howard County Executive Ken Ulman wants a sharper increase in the fire tax, which funds the Department of Fire and Rescue, in the rural West to bring it on par with the eastern part of the county.
“We will be providing an equal level of service,” Ulman said.
Ulman?s budget proposal includes a 1-cent increase in the East, which is served by public water and sewer system, and a 3-cent increase in the rural West, which relies on well and septic.
The West has paid 2 cents more than the East because the rural areas received a lower level of service.
The fire tax is the only tax increase in Ulman?s proposed budget. Residents may see higher property taxes because residential property assessments went up an average of 5 percent.
Two capital improvement programs, the rural fire protection program and planned West Friendship fire station, would boost service to the West, Chief Joe Herr said.
Howard is moving forward in building an $11.5 million station, including a direct water line to the building, to help service parts of the West, Herr said.
Officials also want to place 30,000-gallon water tanks underground in locations around the West to help fight fires in rural areas, as part of the rural protection program.
“We are hoping we can increase our service delivery,” Herr said.
The cost to homeowners in the West is expected to be offset by savings in homeowners insurance, Ulman said.
Council Member Greg Fox, R-District 5, who represents much of the West, said until the administration can show the services are equal, he is skeptical of the increase.
“It?s premature to make a change,” he said.
