getting charged for fire protection

[huberm]

My monthly utility bill is charged by the town I live in. Normally I am charged for electric, water, sewer, and trash. Now they are charging for "fire protection". I thought this came out of property taxes and county taxes? It is a volunteer fire department that serves my town. Is it legal for them to charge this? If it isn't, who would I notify about it?

 

[sdifox]

err, it's a tax increase, just live with it or move out of town.

 

[rivan]

Volunteer firemen perhaps, but I suspect you'd prefer they show up with more than buckets and shovels if your house is on fire.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Exactly... the labor is volunteer but the trucks and hoses and maintenance and * are not.

 

[Newbian]

If you don't pay it I suggest you get fire insurance so once they end their "protection" you are set.

 

[AlienCraft]

Freedom isn't free.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

i really like this idea. in the sense that, the cost of civil benefits should be moved as close to the consumer as possible. it makes sense for you to directly fund the firemen & equipment that are going to serve you.

HOWEVER. whats bullshit is that you are certainly STILL going to be funding these same things via local, state and even federal taxes in some capacity.

the former method limits waste the latter encourages it

 

[jme5343]

It used to be free until rpanic complained and ruined it for everyone.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2093232&highlight=911

 

[lxskllr]

How much is the charge?

 

[JS80]

Firefighters deserve six figure salaries and sweet ass pensions!

 

[techs]

Americans deserve six figure salaries and sweet ass pensions!

Fixed.