Philippi Volunteer Fire Department responds to fire fee discussion
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Both the Philippi Volunteer Fire Department and the City of Philippi have responded this week to online criticism of how the city's fire fee funds have been handled.
PHILIPPI -- The Philippi Volunteer Fire Department has responded to online discussion and criticism about the handling of the City of Philippi's fire fee funds.
"As Treasurer of the Philippi Fire Department. I want to reassure anyone who has been reading or hearing that the fire fee is being mishandled that this is very erroneous information," a late Thursday evening post on the Philippi VFD Facebook page stated.
"The fire fee is collected by the City and all money is accounted for according to state code. The fire department uses the funding to cover fire service expenses," the post continues. "The bookkeeping is very transparent and is audited on a regular basis.
"The fire department is very appreciative of all those paying the fire fee. These funds are vital for the protection of the communities we serve. Hopefully, this information will be beneficial and set minds at ease."
The post was not signed, but the Philippi VFD's chief is Dave Utt and the deputy chief is Mike Metz.
Earlier Thursday, the City of Philippi responded to online questions and criticism about how the city's fire fee funds are being spent.
"The City of Philippi Fire Fee was put in place to spread the cost of fire services across the entire Philippi Fire Department area and to make the Philippi Fire Department self-sufficient," the post stated.
Philippi City Council unanimously passed the fire fee ordinance in February 2017, with a cost to residents of $5 per home or residential unit.
"Since the implementation of the City of Philippi Fire Fee, the City of Philippi has distributed over $1.1 million to the Philippi Fire Department," the post states. "In addition to the City of Philippi Fire Fee distribution, the City of Philippi has also paid over $276,000 in other fire department expenses since the City of Philippi Fire Fee was implemented."
The City's social media post points out that the fire fee has not yet accomplished the goal officials designed it to achieve.
"Currently at this time, the City of Philippi Fire Fee has not made the Philippi Fire Department self-sufficient. In the upcoming City of Philippi fiscal year 2023 General Fund budget, the City of Philippi has budgeted over $40,000 towards fire department-related expenses," the post states.
"This amount represents various fire service expenses, including fuel and utilities that are paid outside of the City of Philippi Fire Fee collections. The City of Philippi also pays for all the administrative costs for the billing and collecting of the City of Philippi Fire Feed. These costs are also paid for outside of the City of Philippi Fire Fee collections."
Thursday's post included no figures regarding the costs of billing and collecting the fire fees.
The post also stressed that city government "fully supports" the Philippi VFD and appreciates the many hours worked by volunteers.
The next Philippi City Council meeting will be Tuesday, June 21 at 5 p.m.