Frequently Asked Questions

A Fire Department is a department of a municipality that handles fire and ambulance, like the public works department takes care of streets, and so forth. It is controlled by the municipality and is financed by the municipality from their budget as they see fit. If the fire department need money for a new fire engine, the municipality may shift money into the fire department one year, and into the street repair budget the next. The money to pay for things can come from many sources, including property taxes, sales taxes, and the like.

A Fire Protection District, on the other hand, is a self governing body with no mayor or city council to report to. It gets most of its budget from property taxes, and has no access to money from alternate sources such as sales taxes. Its sole purpose is fire and ambulance services, and has no responsibility for other things. The board is appointed in accordance with state law.