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 Screven County
 Code of Ordinances
 Chapter 30. FIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION

§ 30-1. Purpose and intent of chapter.  

Latest version.

  • (a)

    The board of commissioners of Screven County, Georgia ("BOC") finds that the best interests of the citizens of the county will be served by the availability of adequate fire protection to the citizens of the unincorporated areas of the county and those cities or municipalities which chose to be served by the county's fire department and to have the cost of that department be borne by the citizens who use the service. One purpose of this chapter is the creation of a county fire department by incorporating the existing volunteer fire units within the county, other than those funded and supported by the City of Newington and City of Sylvania, as county firefighting units.

    Further, the BOC has determined that the most effective and appropriate means of providing adequate fire protection for the citizens living in the unincorporated areas of Screven County ("county") and those living within incorporated areas which wish to be served by the county's fire department ("department"), (which department was established as provided in section 30-3 of this Code in 1999), is to establish a fire protection special service district ("district") for that purpose pursuant to the provisions of the Georgia Constitution, article IX, section II, paragraph III ("Supplemental Powers Clause") and article IX, section II, paragraph IV ("Special Districts Clause").

    (b)

    Further, pursuant to those provisions set out in subsection (a) above, the BOC finds it to be in the best interest of the citizens of the county to fund the operation of the county's fire department by the implementation of a "special services tax levy" and such other fees and assessments as allowed by law sufficient to cover the cost of maintaining, operating and equipping the department, including the cost of capital items such as the acquisition of real property for fire stations, fire engines and other equipment and machinery. The BOC has determined that a special fund is to be created within the county's accounting system and all funds collected for the purpose of supporting the department, from the citizens of the unincorporated area of the county and from those cities or municipalities which enter into intergovernmental agreements to be served by the department (as defined below), be allocated to that fund and all such funds be utilized only for the services provided by the department within the district. No portion of the funds collected as part of the general ad valorem tax imposed upon all citizens of the county shall be used to support the department.

(Ord. No. 99-05, § 2, 5-25-1999; Ord. of 1-9-2018, § 2)