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From the CBS 8 Troy Newsroom-- The Pike County Volunteer Fire Departments may be a step closer to getting more money. That's if lawmakers pass a bill in the upcoming session that will hike property taxes for county residents.

"Our equipment will wear out, and we won't be able to buy anything to replace it," says Spring Hill Volunteer Fire Chief Ray Armstrong.

Armstrong never thought it would come to this. Equipment like this truck keeps breaking down, and there's not enough money to fix it.

"This right now is probably the best it's going to be without some additional funding," he says.

Armstrong says after meeting with the Pike County Commission, the best solution is an increase in property taxes for county residents.

"I support it one hundred percent, because out in the rural that's the only means of home protection," says Commissioner Homer Wright.

Wright says the property tax increase would be minimal. Let's say you own $10,000 worth of land then you will have to pay around $20 more per year.

But no matter where the money goes, residents' reactions are split.

"Yeah, I'd pay a little more to help them out," says Daniel Synco from Banks. "I don't think it would be that big of a deal. I don't think they should go up like sky high or anything."

"I don't like it! I would rather it stay like it is. To heck with property tax going up!" says Tommy Johnson from Goshen.

But Armstrong says folks need to look at it this way: if they don't get more money, and the equipment continues to ware, it only hurts them.

"Now if you live in Pike County, you're not paying anything for fire protection," he says. "In years to come, it will be a lot less than it is now."

If state lawmakers pass this bill then county residents would still have to vote on it. Armstrong says even if residents vote in favor of it, they still won't see any money coming in until late November.

If the property tax hike goes into effect,Troy and Brundidge Fire Departments would not receive any money from it, because both departments receive funding from those cities. 

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