FIRE DEPARTMENT BILL Proposed Bill Would Fund WV Fire Departments
Reported by: Dave Benton
Videographer: Jeremy Bias
Web Producer: Heath Harrison
Reported: Mar. 10, 2013 6:36 PM EDT
Updated: Mar. 11, 2013 9:15 AM EDT
EYEWITNESS ONLINE WEBCAST VIDEO C L I C K T O P L A Y
Charleston
, Kanawha County
, West Virginia
A bill has been proposed at the West Virginia State Capitol to help fund volunteer fire departments, but it comes at a cost.
A few days ago, a bill was introduced in the Senate that would increase the surcharge on fire and casualty insurance policies for homeowners.
The money generated, which is an extra $14 million, would total $30 million a year and help volunteer fire departments with equipment, training and even their own insurance policies.
If a homeowner in West Virginia pays $500 a year for insurance, currently they pay $7.50 for fire and casualty. If the bill passes that would go up $2.50 more a year.
"There have been several attempts at this issue. Generally, the opposition has come from the insurance industry," Tom Miller of the Sissonville Volunteer Fire Department said. "But right now, the bill has been introduced by Sen. Bob Plymale and we're very grateful to him for that. We're hoping it does pass because it would lift some of the burdens from the fire departments in regards to fund raising and boot drives. But we defer to the discretion of the Legislature."
If the proposed bill becomes law, the money from the surcharge would be distributed quarterly to volunteer fire departments equally throughout the state.
W.Va. birthday cake is Capitol replica June 19, 2013 2:01 AM EDT West Virginia's birthday cake will be an 8-foot long replica of the State Capitol decorated with nearly 900 pounds of icing.
18 mayors: Limit use of food stamps to buy soda June 18, 2013 6:33 PM EDT The mayor of Louisville, Ky., is among those in 18 cities, including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, who are reviving a push against letting government food vouchers be used to buy soda and other sugary drinks.
Ohio woman accuses 3 of holding her captive June 19, 2013 2:40 AM EDT Authorities say a woman was held captive by three people who forced her to do housework, raided her bank account and menaced her with snakes.
June 13, 2013 Rio Bravo-South Charleston; Pizza Hut-Kanawha City; Fifth Quarter makes the list. Find out who has violations and who gets the Clean Kitchen Award!
Dave Benton
