Dear Pioneer Resident and Taxpayer,
I’m writing you today to give you the facts concerning fire, police and first responder services for our village. Pioneer is the only community in Williams County where all emergency services is paid from the General Fund, meaning, we have no additional levies or taxes.
Cost have increased each year, but because our village continues to grow, we have been able to maintain quality services without additional taxes.
In addition to the protection we provide our own residents, we have always provided services to the surrounding townships. The average runs over the past ten years have broken down as follows:
1. Pioneer – 50%
2. Bridgewater Twp. including Lake Seneca – 30%
3. Amboy Twp. including Merry Lake -10%
4. Madison Twp. – 10%
Just recently, the village has placed an order for a new fire engine. This sticker shock of close to $1 Million caused us to do a deep dive into the emergency services budget.
Pioneer residents clearly have been subsidizing protection for the surrounding townships for several years now. To help balance the expenses going forward it was determined a new formula is needed to more fairly spread the burden with the services received.
Bridgewater Twp. is currently paying $37,205.91 per year. The village asked for a 7% increase over the current 3% rate adjustment. This would amount to an increase of $2,605. per year for the entire township.
Amboy Twp. is currently paying $ 14,206.00 per year. The village asked for a 7% increase over the current 3% rate adjustment. This would amount to an increase of $994.42 per year for the entire area we serve.
Madison Twp. has never paid the village for our services and since our service frequency equals that of Amboy Twp., the village has asked for compensation equal to Amboy Twp.
In all three cases the new contract has been rejected by the Township Trustees. Cost will continue to rise. Myself and a majority of council want all parties sharing the benefit of outstanding emergency services to also participate in the actual cost.
Myself and a majority of council do not want to raise taxes in Pioneer. If the townships do not want our services, then we respect their decision, but it is not fair for our citizens to continue to subsidize them.
As a village resident, you may hear false claims, the village is being mean spirited or unfair. Fact is, we are working to hold your taxes down by having every entity pay their fair share of expenses. No group of taxpayers should subsidize another group of taxpayers when receiving the same service.
We can only make decisions which are in the best interest of our citizens. Township Trustees have the same mandate for their citizens.
If they choose not to sign the new contract the village will end all services outside village limits, EXCEPT automatic mutual aid for a structure fire. Absent of a contract, all other emergency assistance will cease to the townships on January 1, 2025.
A fair deal is on the table. The minor increase requested works out to less than $4.00 per household per year.
This is correct, slightly more than a penny per day per household for emergency services. We hope an amicable agreement is reached, but if not, then we hope township residents will address this issue with their elected officials.
Pioneer Village Council has done all it can to be fair. Sometimes in government, tough decisions must be made. As we work hard to protect your interest, we take this time to wish you and your family a Very Happy Thanksgiving. Be Proud Pioneer!
Best regards,
Mayor Edward A. Kidston and a Majority of Pioneer Village Council