Leasburg Fire Proposition Set For Ballot

A proposition establishing a fire district for Leasburg is set to appear on the Nov. 5 ballot.

Judge Megan Seay approved a proposition Sept. 10 that will allow voters to create an incorporated district. 

Leasburg currently has a volunteer district that does not collect any taxes. The proposition would establish a tax levy and a board of directors. The levy will be 12 cents per $100 of assessed value.

The Leasburg Community Fire Protection on July 10 filed a petition in court.

The petition says there are approximately 750 inhabitants within the proposed boundaries with the estimated value of tangible property, real and person, at $30 million.

The district would inherit the current facilities and equipment of the fire department, along with purchasing additional equipment.

“The proposed district will succeed the volunteer fire department and will serve all inhabitants of the district as opposed to ‘members of the association’ thereby increasing fairness, rates and costs to all properties within the district including residential, commercial and agricultural properties,” the petition reads.

If the action is not approved by voters, “the district will lack any revenue source and as such would not be able to meet its financial obligations of basic operation.” 

The petition estimates the short term cost of improvements at $100,000. The long term costs range from $200,000 to $500,000.

Daryl McKisson, Jerry Conway and Thomas Fife are listed on the petition as the candidates who would be selected to the first-ever board of directors.

The candidate receiving the most votes would serve a six-year term, with the second-most votes receiving a four-year term and the third-most receiving a two-year term.