Perkasie Fire Company discusses funding needs

When Perkasie Fire Company members speak with residents, one of the things they encourage them to have is a sprinkler system in their homes.

However, some might be surprised where there isnt a sprinkler system.

We promote sprinklers, but we dont have one in our building, Perkasie Fire Company Chief David Worthington said.

A sprinkler system is the biggest ticket item on a 14-item, $423,000 list of capital funding projects the company would like to implement at its Perkasie station.

With the cost of maintaining the station in mind, the company is considering asking borough residents for an increase in the fire tax and held a public forum to get resident feedback at the firehouse Thursday, Aug. 14.

In addition to borough officials and members of the fire company, a small handful of residents listened to Worthington expound upon the companys financial situation and funding needs.

The fire company has two stations: one in the borough and one in East Rockhill Township, with the company providing coverage to 68 percent of East Rockhill. Both Perkasie and East Rockhill have a fire tax, with the company receiving the entirety of Perkasies tax and a proportional 68 percent of East Rockhills tax funding, according to Worthington.

Funding for the maintenance of each station and the apparatus held there is kept separate, meaning the taxes Perkasie residents pay go only to the station in the borough, according to Worthington.

Currently, 1 mill out of the 5.75 mill tax rate goes to the fire company, according to information on the boroughs website.

It basically equates to $27.80 per billable parcel, the chief said. Continued...

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Perkasie Fire Company discusses funding needs