Fire department asks Monessen for real estate tax waiver

By KRISTIE LINDEN
klinden@yourmvi.com

Monessen’s Volunteer Fire Department No. 1 asked the city to waive some of its real estate taxes to help during a difficult time for nonprofits.
No. 1 fire Capt. Steve Gaydos said property owned by the Monessen Firemen’s Relief Association at Grand Plaza costs more than $15,000 in real estate taxes annually.
“We’re totally getting crushed,” Gaydos told council this month. “We’re struggling to make it as it is. Other than our fundraising, we get $5,000 a year from the city and that doesn’t cover a whole lot.”
Gaydos said a set of tires for the fire trucks can cost close to $5,000 and two weeks ago the trucks went out for inspection, which cost $2,200. When the aerial truck gets inspected, it’s another $690, Gaydos said. Add on a few oil changes and the money from the city is gone relatively quickly.
Gaydos said all other funding comes from fundraising and state grants. He said the city departments haven’t been able to get federal grants in years.
The department intends to ask the Monessen City School Board to waive its real estate taxes on the property as well. A hearing was set last year to request a waiver of taxes from Westmoreland County but it was delayed due to COVID-19.
“We’re not bringing in much income,” Gaydos said. “We’re struggling to get this stuff paid. Having these taxes waived isn’t much to ask for all that we do for the community free of charge.”
Monessen Solicitor Tim Witt said the city could offer a letter of support on behalf of the department’s request with the county. He said council could also exonerate the city taxes every year.
The city taxes are $4,914 this year, the school taxes will be $10,166 and county taxes will be $2,449.
Witt advised they may want to consider how they would approach potential requests from other organizations.
Councilwoman Lois Thomas agreed.
“I don’t have any problem with this because this is a service that everyone in the city may need at some point in their lives, but I think we have to be consistent,” Thomas said. “We have to have something set so we don’t have everyone coming out and asking for the same thing.”
Witt agreed and said it’s worthwhile for council to consider how this particular request will relate to other requests, for example the city’s other fire department, Monessen Hilltop.
The city is also considering the implementation of a volunteer firefighter tax break.

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