By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Juab County Commissioners were alarmed to discover just
how much the fire suppression budget would be for the
remaining part of the wildland suppression fund with the
Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands.
The $86,450 bill for 2001 was submitted by Kelly
Allen, representing the state, at commission meeting on
Monday.
"Juab County has had large fires and large fire costs
over the last seven years," said Allen. "I audit the records
each year and then submit them to the state. They throw out
the highest-cost year and the lowest cost year and then
average the rest. This is the figure they came up with after
doing that."
Commissioners said they couldn't afford to pay the fee
but, on the other hand, they couldn't afford not to pay.
"We have been bailed out several times because we are
members of the wildland fire suppression fund," said Wm.
Boyd Howarth, commission chair.
"The fund assessment is 4.8663 higher this year than
last year," said Howarth. "We only have 8,000 people in Juab
County and rely on property taxes from houses and from
Greenbelt lands. We have very little industry. That is a 385
percent increase in our assessment."
The fund works when fire costs reach a certain point
and the county hasn't the money to continue to fight a fire.
The suppression fund then kicks in and the funding assists
the county with the costs.
Counties are assessed according to factors of
population and fire costs for participating in the fire
suppression fund.
"We don't have the money," said Howarth. "If everybody
in the county put in a budget like this we'd have to take
the scissors and cut. But somehow, we need to find the
money. We can't afford not be part of the fund."
"The only thing we can do is put this in the hopper
and see what can be done," said Joseph Bernini,
commissioner.
The county commission must adopt a fiscally sound
budget. They are legally bound to do so and, in addition,
have been mandated to do so by the state legislature in the
balanced budget requirements set for government entities in
Utah.
"What happens if we can't come up with the money?"
asked Robert Steele, commissioner.
"I will have to go to the state office and ask more
questions," said Allen.
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