Fire funding options
February 14th, 2008 by 
Alica
Do you think the Brandon Volunteer Fire Department has explored their options enough before deciding to pursue a fire protection district that would raise taxes?
The department hasn’t tried to renegotiate its contract with the city for fire protection for many years. Could they get the money they need if they renegotiated with the city, the county and the township, or any combination thereof?
Has the department explored the possibility of leasing fire trucks instead of buying them? Could leasing save the department money and ensure that the trucks they use are always up to date?
Fire department officials have said they have no interest in becoming a city department, even though city council members have offered that possibility. Should the department at least research this to see if this type of arrangement would work for them? It’s possible the city could buy trucks for a lower cost and at a lower interest rate than the fire department could.
Has the department talked to other cities where the fire departments are under the city’s wing? Maybe the BVFD could have everything they want for less money. They are seeking a $174,000 annual operating budget. Madison’s fire department operates on $128,000 a year, which includes the chief’s salary. Vermillion’s fire department operates on $146,000 a year, which includes the chief’s salary.
If the Brandon Volunteer Fire Department can’t get enough signatures on a petition, or if the fire tax district goes to a vote and fails, wouldn’t the department have to research these other options anyway? If they did that research now and still felt a fire tax district was the way to go, wouldn’t that help their cause among voters?
What are your thoughts?
Posted in Uncategorized | 
February 14th, 2008 at 4:18 am
It goes to show that a budget of $174,000.00 Brandon still holds true to a must have the best of the best. Maybe we should contact the lower budget cities and inquire how they operated on such a small budget. It’s sad to say but if Karber and Buck are in favor of getting BVFD added to the city you can bet it will happen seems to all the time? Why do we keep talking about new fire trucks? Have you seen some of those cars that the BPD drives? I have heard some of them have upwards of 160000 miles on them how safe are those and they are used daily 24/7. I think someone needs to get their priorities straight. If it ain’t broke don’t try and fix it.
February 14th, 2008 at 8:02 am
Here is a suggestion but it would have to involve the cooperation of the SD legislature and our city council. This would be the idea of a 1 cent sales tax for public safety. This sales tax would be split between the state,county and city law enforcement and fire depts to support their budgets. In return the property owners would not see an increase in their property taxes. This is only a suggestion I am not a politican and I do not know how to go forward with this idea but I believe this would be an option which should be explored with the budget cuts for the HP.
February 14th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Anonymous,
You have heard of “preventative” care? Are you aware that if you wait until things are and out of control cluster f- that it is hard to fix?
February 14th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
WHAT?
You sentence makes no sense.
February 14th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
#1, I am not sure where you got all your “I Heard” information, but if you had read the thread, it seems that someone has done just that. There is information from at least 2 other communities fire departments. What has the BPD’s cars to do with the BVFD anyway? The BVFD can keep their equipment if you want you fire insurance premium to get bigger. If they loose the rating they have by not keeping up with the recommended program, it will.
Also, I would like to know how much money they get in the donation envelopes from this community. If people would dig out an extra $20, maybe that would help them a lot. I do think that they could do some extra fund raisers to collect a few more dollars. I would also hope that “Roger” has a new cluster of thoughts the make better sense and keep it cleaner.
February 15th, 2008 at 7:07 am
Higher insurance rates, faulty equipment,no one to fight a fire, our world is coming to an end. Scare tactics, I see how its going to be played. I’ll just put a sprinkler system in my house.
February 15th, 2008 at 8:47 am
DKJK plus everyone else that is bitchin…
Did you go to the open house? I didnt think so,there is so much more to these trucks then the paint and tires. But I guess who cares, till your house is burning down someday, but my guess is that you will be bitchin then about how poor the FD performed.
That is what seems to be the trend here in Brandon, a whole lot of bitchin…Between Med-Star, brandon fire dept, the police chief or the council. But its funny that no one is taking out petitions for council.
February 15th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
At this point I dont have the answere to the original concern of the department. I will however try to enlighten some basic info regarding insurance. Communities are rated with a PPC number 1-10 depending upon 3 major areas; Fire Alarm Communication Systems-10% of rating, Fire Dept-50% of the rating ie. engine companies, equip carried, pumping capacity, personnel and traning. Water Supply-40%of the rating, ie. hydrants size, type and inspection frequency. Currently Brandon is a PPC 5. (for comparison Sioux falls is a 3 and Valley Springs is a 6). By the way Brandon and Valley both have excellent protection classes for communities of our size. Now insurance rates are of course higher when the protection class is higher(assuming all other factors are equal). If the PPC would worsen from the previous year ISO would notify the community, they dont however publish this to any insurance companies. ISO will identify what “features” they need to improve and allow the FD and community to remedy the problem areas. If you would like to read more in detail see www.ISO.com. Have a good weekend!
February 15th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Thank you, Steve. Your post is a good example of how the blog can serve the public and help readers become more educated.
February 24th, 2008 at 3:29 am
I have an idea for the BV Challenger to consider. Would it be possible to print the fire calls just as you do the police calls? I think it would be helpful for me as well as other Brandon residents to know just how many calls they respond to weekly/monthly. It probably would help the BFD in their quest for additional money.
February 24th, 2008 at 7:57 am
Here’s another question….why is the FD still responding to all medical calls? Now that we have an ambulance service their is no need and we are duplicating services. Service duplication costs money. Now, don’t assume I don’t want the FD as first responders because I’d rather have them over Medstar. But I know for a fact that many services are seperate in regards to fire and medical and fire does not respond to medical unless they need fuel clean up or extrication.
I would think that upwards of 80% of our calls are medical, imagine the fuel savings.
February 26th, 2008 at 11:57 am
The reason that BFD still responds to medical calls is that most of the time Med-Star needs help with lifting pts, getting supplies for the medics and in some cases riding to the hospital with Med-Star to assist the medic in the back on the rig..
Sioux Falls Fire responds to all medical calls as well as Dell Rapids fire and Garretson fire which all have staffed medics.
February 26th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Thank you to the BVFD for continuing to volunteer your time. You do a fabulous job!