Election Results: Troutman fire tax referendum
Levy and collect a special tax on all taxable property in the Troutman Fire District for fire protection.
Yes (374 votes)
No (43 votes)
Total votes: 417
*unofficial results
Voters overwhelming approved a new funding method for the Troutman Volunteer Fire Department.
Some 374 voters said yes to a tax district for the fire department, while only 43 people voted against it.
The tax district means the department, with the approval of the Iredell County Board of Comm-issioners, will set the tax rate for people in the Troutman district, and all of the money collected from those tax dollars will go to the TFD.
Troutman is now one of four departments in or that serve Iredell County with a voted-in tax district. Shepherds, Mt. Mourne and East Alexander (Stony Point) also have tax districts.
Under the current funding system, the remainder of the fire departments in Iredell County and the four out-of-county departments that serve a portion of Iredell divvy up the 6 cents per $100 valuation fire tax.
Troutman Fire Chief Allen Church said he was pleased with the results of the election, especially the overwhelming nature of the vote.
“It does make you feel good that so many people voted in favor of it,” he said Tuesday night.
Assistant Chief Keith Troutman said he believes this is a vote of confidence by the community.
“It tells you that most people do appreciate the service we offer,” he said.
Tom Billig, a member of the department, stood outside Troutman Town Hall most of the day to ask voters to say yes to the tax district.
“All day long, there was so much positive feedback from the people,” he said.
Troutman Alderman Mike Spath dropped by the fire department Tuesday night to offer congratulations. “You guys have worked hard,” he said.
Spath said the tax district will help the TFD prepare for the growth that’s headed Troutman’s way. “There’s going to be a lot of growth in the next eight to 10 years,” he said.
There was a slight snag in that some people who live outside the department’s 5-mile district but within the 6-mile district served by Troutman showed up to vote.
“Some people were disappointed that they couldn’t vote for it,” Billig said.
That can be easily rectified, Troutman said.
“We will have a paper for them to sign so that can be included in it,” he said.
Troutman said the department couldn’t have accomplished this milestone without the support of the community, from those who signed a petition to guarantee the vote to those who cast ballots Tuesday.
“We want to thank everybody that signed our petition, and we want to thank each and every one of the 374 people who came out and voted to support it,” he said.
Troutman and Church said the taxpayers in the Troutman district can be assured they will receive the highest level of fire service possible. They said the vote will allow the department to have a guaranteed amount of funding each year and enable them to develop long-term plans for the department. “We’re on the verge now,” Troutman said.
Troutman said this vote is the culmination of two years of hard work and the realization of something they didn’t believe was possible in 2005.
“Two years ago, this was just a pipe dream,” he said.
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Posted on 11/06/07 at 08:41 PM
Troutman •
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