[StBernard] St. Bernard council to let voters decide on fee for fire department

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard council to let voters decide on fee for fire department

10:17 PM CDT on Thursday, September 17, 2009

 Bigad Shaban / Eyewitness News

bshaban at wwltv.com 


NEW ORLEANS - Public safety and new mandatory fees - the combo can prove to
be a fiery combination. Leaders in St. Bernard hope putting the issue to
voters will help put out the flames, while eventually supplying the millions
needed to keep the fire department out of the red. 


Josie Savell of Chalmette doesn't have a car. She walks five miles to get
her job as a part-time stocking clerk, and she has an 8-month-old child to
support.  

Yet, despite all that, she said she is willing to part with some of her
income each month if it means building a stronger fire department. 

"It's important, no matter what kind of economic crisis we're in right now,"
said Savell. 

Last month, a massive fire nearly engulfed her apartment after the flames
charred an adjacent blighted building. St. Bernard fire fighters managed to
fight off the blaze. 

"If it wouldn't have been for them our building would have caught on fire,
too," said Savell. 

This week, the St. Bernard Parish Council approved a measure for the Nov. 14
ballot, asking residents if they would be willing to implement a mandatory
$10 monthly fee on residents over the next six years to help fund the fire
department. 

"The shortfall is in the $7 million range to accomplish a restrictively
functioning fire department, maintaining a reduced sanitation, and funding a
static public works department," said Craig Taffaro, St. Bernard Parish
president. 

Pre-Hurricane Katrina the parish had 10 district fire stations. Only three
of the buildings are now open and running.  Inside the district 2 station,
you'll find no firefighters, just painters.  The building is expected to
reopen by the end of the month, along with the district 7 station.  At least
four others stations are set to follow suit by early next year. 

Parish leaders say the mandatory fee would help staff the new stations.  The
department's budget took a serious hit with a drop in its biggest funding
source: sales taxes. 

Still, some council members urged postponing the ballot issue in the name of
more number crunching. 

"We know we have a problem," said Mike Ginart, District D Councilman.
"There's no doubt about that, we all agree on it, but let's do it right and
let's make sure we got our ducks in row." 

But with the issue now set to go to voters, some aren't so sure it will
garner the support fire officials are hoping for. 

"$10 seems a little excessive," said Keith Gonzalez, Chalmette resident.
"Maybe if it was a little less people would more likely vote for it.  The
way times are, a lot of people don't have $10 dollars to put up every
month." 

Savell said she'll find a way to make do in order to support those who
supported her. 

"Everything I own is in that apartment, I got an 8-month-old daughter so
it's kind of scary." 

If voters approve the measure in November, the $10 would be added to every
resident's water bill.  But according to Taffaro, council members may call
an emergency meeting on Friday to possibly increase the fee that residents
will soon have to vote on.