Monessen supports tax break for Fire Department No. 1

By KRISTIE LINDEN

klinden@yourmvi.com

Monessen Council has agreed to issue a letter of recommendation on behalf of Fire Department No. 1 in its bid for tax exemption on the property in Grand Plaza.

After a lengthy discussion this month involving some back and forth, council unanimously agreed to send the letter to the courthouse during the department’s tax assessment hearing.   

In February, 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.

The department gets $5,000 from the city annually, and aside from the insurances and some other things the city handles for No. 1 and Hilltop each year, the departments pay for their own equipment and its upkeep.

Throughout the last year, like all nonprofits, fire departments are having trouble keeping the coffers full.

Gaydos has said all other funding comes from fundraising and state grants and that the city departments haven’t been able to get federal grants in years.

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