Tennessee family home burns while firefighters watch

[BlueHen86]

This is an old subject...

There are many ways to assess taxes and fees. Adding unpaid assessments onto property tax bills is one method. Creating special sales tax assessments is another. The methods are many. Local governemnt refusing to provide public safety services because a person fails to pay a direct billed $75 special assessment by an arbitrary due date goes against the fundamental mission of a Democratic government: To provide for the health and safety of it's citizens.

Here's a hint for you, Barney Fife: The PRIVATE COMPANY that provides fire service to my unincorporated area has NO MECHANISM by which to "assess taxes" and is in no way, shape or form associated with Federal, State, County or City government.

They (Rural Metro) are a private entity, filling a need created by the fact that unincorporated areas do NOT have fire coverage from CITY fire departments.

So, you can cry in your handkerchief all you want regarding the need to "provide for the health and safety of it's citizens", but that does not apply in my case.

I don't think the fire department in this case has the ability to tax the residents in question either. Besides, fire departments should be putting out fires, not running a collections agency (on a related note, how much is the property worth if the home burns down? Now the people have no home and owe a debt to the fire department!)

The residents should not be given a choice in this matter, raise their taxes accordingly ahead of time and make sure there is a fire department available.

[OL FU]

Like an ambulance. If they don't pay garnish or levy or put a lien on their property.

Welcome stranger!

I woke one morning and remembered how to sign in

[OL FU]

Like an ambulance. If they don't pay garnish or levy or put a lien on their property.

Look who ducked in! OL, so would it be OK for the fire dept to tell the power company that they'll pay their bill once the receive payments from the people who's house is now fire damaged and has a lien on it?

I wasn't saying it was my preference, it is just a way to do it. But a lien doesn't give you anything but the right to collect if title changes, right? you can still pay your power bill assuming you had insurance and the place was fixed up. just whenever title passes, the fire department gets paid.

But you are the mortgage guy, so you tell me. I may have it wrong.

The point is still the same. If the ambulance picks you up, even if you didn't request it. they send you a bill. and I believe around here the ambulance services are owned by the hospitals who can garnish.

[travelinman67]

Here's a hint for you, Barney Fife: The PRIVATE COMPANY that provides fire service to my unincorporated area has NO MECHANISM by which to "assess taxes" and is in no way, shape or form associated with Federal, State, County or City government.

They (Rural Metro) are a private entity, filling a need created by the fact that unincorporated areas do NOT have fire coverage from CITY fire departments.

So, you can cry in your handkerchief all you want regarding the need to "provide for the health and safety of it's citizens", but that does not apply in my case.

So, you're saying that a developer cut a fat deal with the county to allow construction of an "island" outside of city/county services. Thus, the residents have found a quasi-exempt way of excluding themselves from certain tax districts.

Yippee for you.

Problem could still be resolved through an assessment district, without involving either city or county. But that would require organization and management skills...apparently traits missing from your community'S residents.

They'd rather write out a check each month and mail it to "Joe's Fire Protection".

And what if the check gets lost in the mail?

Or your auto-pay credit card expires and you're not notified?

Or you enter an incorrect ACH routing number?

What's the grace period?

Who manages A/R?

What if they make a mistake?

"You just need another thirty cents, Mrs. Grizfan. Don't forget, it's YOUR responsibility to make sure your account gets paid each month. DON'T PUT THE HOSES AWAY YET GUYS! SHE'S ALMOST GOT ENOUGH!!"

Sucks to be you.