MSBU election to begin this week on St. George Island and Alligator Point

Property owners on St. George Island and at Alligator Point should start receiving ballots this week for to vote on whether to raise MSBU assessments on homes in those fire districts.

The MSBU assessments are levied on every home and business in Franklin County to help pay for fire protection.        

County commissioners agreed in January to separate the 7 fire districts in the county so that each one can levy a different MSBU assessment for properties within their district.

Currently homeowners county-wide pay 50 dollars a year for fire protection; the cost is 10 dollars for undeveloped lots and 100 dollars for most businesses.

The fire districts on St. George Island and Alligator Point are seeking to increase the MSBU assessment from 50 dollars per home per year to 95 dollars a year.

The assessment on vacant land would not change.

On April 25^th the elections office will mail out ballots to property owners on St. George Island and Alligator point to see if the majority wants to increase the amount they pay for fire protection.

Those two areas say they have the greatest need for an increase because they have some of the tallest homes in the county which requires expensive equipment and trucks to protect.

About 6000 ballots will be mailed out – they will be counted on May the 14^th.

The fire departments are paying for the election.

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