(Red Oak) Mike Olson, the representative for District #2 on the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors, shared some positive news from the Rural Fire Annual Meeting. He announced that a three-year contract with the city has been approved, which includes a three percent increase each year for the next three years. Olson also noted that the levy remains unchanged at 0.43 cents, well below the maximum allowable levy amount of around 0.80 cents.
A rural fire levy is a fee or charge collected to fund rural fire services, which provide fire prevention, suppression, and emergency response in non-urban or rural areas. These services often protect lives, property, and natural resources from wildfires and other fire-related incidents.
The funds are used for purchasing equipment, maintaining fire stations, training personnel, and operational expenses. They also support volunteer or professional rural fire brigades.
The levy is typically imposed on property owners in rural or semi-rural areas. It may be calculated based on property value, land use, or as a flat fee. Local governments, state authorities, or fire agencies collect it, and it is often included in property taxes or council rates.
