2025 TAX BILLS – FIRE TAX EXPLANATION
2025 TAX BILLS
We are receiving many calls about the Fire Tax listed on Real Estate bills. Please feel free to call the Township Office with any questions or concerns, however, we hope that this summary will provide some clarification.
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The Township instituted the Fire Tax approximately (15) years ago, as most Townships do, especially those with Volunteer based fire departments
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“In Pennsylvania, Townships can levy a specific tax for fire protection, known as a fire tax. This tax, typically expressed in mills, is added to the general real estate tax bill. It’s used to fund fire departments, including the purchase of equipment, maintaining buildings, and paying for fire suppression services.”
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Beginning in 2023, instead of the Fire Tax Millage being added in with the Real Estate Millage as ONE LUMP SUM millage rate for assessment purposes on tax bills, it began being listed separately as R/E Tax and Fire Tax to allow for more transparency and clarification for both residents and financing/mortgage companies.
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At the end of each year, the Board of Supervisors allocates the total collected for Fire Tax evenly between the Claysville and Taylorstown Fire Departments who are both volunteer based and serve our Community. Since Covid, Fire Departments are struggling even more with needing volunteers and funding. Along with this Fire Tax, the Board donates money from the Impact Fee Fund to assist with the Fire Departments’ needs.
EXAMPLE:
Township Real Estate Millage – 0.8 Mills
Township Fire Tax – 0.15 Mills
Total Millage – 0.95 Mills
Old Tax Bills:
Assessment Value $169,800 x 0.95 Mills = $161.31 and this was listed as R/E Tax
New Tax Bills:
Assessment Value $169,800 x 0.8 Mills = $135.84 R/E Tax
Assessment Value $169,800 x 0.15 Mills = $25.47 Fire Tax
Total Tax = $161.31
Therefore, this is not a new tax, it is just being listed separately on the tax bill.
