Citizens express concerns about Greenbrier County fire levy - Beckley, Bluefield & Lewisburg News, Weather, Sports

Citizens express concerns about Greenbrier County fire levy

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By Kelsey Borza, Reporter - email

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WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS -

Any time a city our county comes out and asks for your hard earned money, there's going to be some opposition.

Some people in Greenbrier County are not completely on board with the fire levy that is up for a vote next month.

Charles Feury of White Sulfur Springs said, "It came up sudden and most people in White Sulfur didn't agree with that, they felt like there was something wrong that it was trying to be pushed on us."

People said they wish it would have been up for a vote in the general election.

But the other main complaint is that folks living inside city limits are paying too much and not getting a fair share.

People in White Sulphur already pay six dollars a month for their city's fire department and don't want to pay any more for the whole county.

Feury said, "The people that live out of White Sulfur, they don't pay it. So they're going to be taxed and now we're going to be taxed too and we're still paying our six dollars so I don't agree with that."

Firefighters say with the levy that six dollars will allow them to expand the department and hire two full-time fighters.

Lewisburg also charges a fee that helps out the fire department, and they've got four paid firefighters. But that's rare. Most of our departments are all volunteers that work to save our lives on top of the jobs that pay the bills.

Lloyd Haynes of White Sulfur Springs said, "If we can help them in any way we should be the first people to step out and do that because the few dollars that we are going to be spending will benefit tremendously."

And firefighters lobbying for support are working hard to make sure you know where those dollars are going.

Haynes said, "I don't think anyone really realizes how much a fire truck pumper costs until they come out here and see the figures for themselves."

If you have questions about the Greenbrier County Fire levy just visit their website where you'll find frequently asked questions and a list of public information meetings being held in the county.