Towns sign agreement for increased fire protection fees

By Rose Hooper

At their October meeting, board members of both municipalities agreed to contribute 4 cents per $100 in ad valorem tax valuations to the Sylva Volunteer Fire Department.

Currently both Dillsboro and Webster contribute $3,500 annually.

In a signed agreement with the town of Sylva, both Webster and Dillsboro agreed to the increase effective fiscal year 2003-04.

Dillsboro's ad valorem property valuation is $21,544, which would result in a $8,619 contribution, a $5,619 increase.

For Webster, whose property valuation is $21,438, the contribution will be $8,571, a $5,071 increase.

"I know we will have to raise taxes; at this point, I just don't know how much," said Webster Mayor Steve Gray. "Until we know how the county will handle the half-cent local option sales tax, we just can't speculate on a new tax rate."

Included in the agreement is the establishment of a Sylva Fire Department Advisory Committee consisting of one representative from each municipality's town board, the Sylva fire chief and an elected member of the Sylva Volunteer Fire Department.

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