1. Homeowner doesn't pay his $75 fee.
2. House catches fire.
3. Fire company puts out fire.
4. Fire company bills homeowner for actual cost of putting out the fire, including labor and pro-rated share of equipment and operations cost (likely several thousand dollars).
5. If homeowner doesn't pay, fire company refers the case to the county.
6. County adds total due the fire company to the homeowner's tax assessment the next time it's due.
You see, there's a way to see that the fire company covers its losses and keeps its donation base WITHOUT letting someone's house burn down.
And the next year, NO ONE pays the $75 (opting to take their chances) and the FD goes bankrupt, sells the Fire Engine and now NO ONE has access to a FD.
On a personal note; I received a FREEPMAIL that stated that the Fire Department’s insurance carrier does not provide coverage to Firemen working on non-covered homes. Need to check that one out ... but this is a very KEY issue that the paper surprisingly didn’t bother to include.
Push to halt foreclosures gains steam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2602159/posts
but this is OK and encouraged.
It’s a mad, mad world.