County commission approves MSBU increase

County commissioners Tuesday approved higher MSBU assessments for local home and business owners and also approved a new assessment for undeveloped lots. The commission agreed to increase the amount local homeowners pay for fire protection for 42 dollars to 50 dollars. Property owners who have undeveloped lots will pay 10 dollars per lot beginning this year, though people with at least 10 contiguous lots will be able to combine the lots and only pay one assessment for all the lots. Local businesses will see the minimum they pay for fire protection increase from 75 dollars to 100 dollars. Motels, hotels, bed and breakfasts and Mobile home parks will pay a minimum of 100 dollars a year, up from the current 75 dollars. Firefighters say the new assessments will go a long way toward meeting the operating expenses that local departments face, but won’t be enough to cover needed capitol improvements like new fire trucks or fire houses. A number of local fire departments are required to buy ladder trucks because of the number homes on pilings in the county – and with the larger trucks they will also need the buildings to house the vehicles. County commissioner Cheryl Sanders said the county may need to look at which houses require ladder trucks and possible assess them for the vehicles.