MURRELLS INLET, S.C. (WBTW)- Voters will decide if they want higher property taxes to help fund the Murrells Inlet- Garden City fire district.
The Murrells Inlet- Garden City fire district said they need an additional 3 million dollars in their budget and they said the reason is growth. You could see a tax hike over the next four years. If you own a $130,000 home you would pay 20 dollars more in property taxes in 2019. That money would help recruit and retain personnel.
“Our paramedic firefighters deserve a living wage, a competitive living wage with our neighbors,” said George Oldroyd, secretary of the Murrells Inlet-Garden City fire district board.
It would also help with equipment replacement and maintenance costs.
The district’s population has more than doubled in the last 15 years, and nearly half the population is 62 or older. That’s led to a significant increase in medical calls, and patients having to be transported further away.
“Waccamaw is a great hospital, but the protocols require that a certain type of injury or illness or cardiac situation be brought up to Grand Strand. That’s 18 to 20 miles away from here,” said Oldroyd.
The fire district is seeing more simultaneous calls which is hurting response times. The district has 4 stations and three ambulances. They’re in need of another ambulance and more paramedics to relieve the strain on the current fleet.
“When an ambulance is out of the district on a call like that it reduces availability or the next call,” said Oldroyd.
The fire district will cover the cost of the special election, and voting will take place July 24th.
