For Immediate Release
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
United States Senator David Vitter yesterday met with chiefs, administrators and commissioners of St. Tammany Fire Protection District No. 12 at the District’s headquarters near Covington to discuss his efforts towards forgiveness of federal emergency loans.
Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, local government agencies borrowed significant sums to maintain operations while order was restored and during the ensuing impact on tax revenue. FD12 borrowed approximately $500,000, which is now due in annual payments of $125,000 – a significant sum for an organization with an annual budget of only about $5 million.
Vitter, who was invited by the FD12 Board of Commissioners, has been a longstanding proponent of loan forgiveness. Vice President Joe Biden announced last year that the loans would be forgiven, but there remains serious doubt in Washington that the Federal Government will actually waive the debts. Vitter told FD12 leaders that he continues to work towards eliminating these obligations, which pose a serious threat to the solvency of state and local government agencies, particularly smaller ones such as FD12.
“I’ve met with FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate and I’ve requested a meeting with the vice president,” Vitter said during the meeting. “As you know, I am on your side and I won’t stop fighting for emergency loan forgiveness.”
FD12, which serves an area north, east and south of the City of Covington, is the third-largest firefighting agency in St. Tammany, and services not only residential areas but the busy Hwy. 190 commercial corridor from I-12 to Claiborne Hill. The District employs more than 40 professional firefighters and emergency responders, in addition to a small administrative staff.
“We are extremely appreciative that the senator made time to meet with us,” said Board of Commissioners Chairman Joe Mitternight. “Sen. Vitter’s strong stand on this issue is reassuring, and his update yesterday was encouraging for us.”
“A $500,000 debt in a time of static tax revenue and rising mandates from the state in terms of firefighter pensions and insurance is a huge burden,” said FD12 Treasurer Jim Rappold. “Sen. Vitter has been a strong advocate on this issue from day one, and we are confident in his determination.”
FD12 staff also spoke with Sen. Vitter about the District’s efforts towards saving taxpayer money. FD12 has been a leader in conservative management of tax dollars and in cost-reduction in the fire service, having established UniFire to provide consolidated dispatch services for several fire districts and having launched its Fire Shop, where apparatus, fire pumps and emergency lighting from FD12 and other local fire districts can be serviced at-cost and on-site.
Following the meeting, the senator took time to meet the firefighters on duty in the District’s main station, and learned about the District’s acquisition of a beam from the World Trade Center – an artifact intended for use in a sculpture to be placed on the FD12 grounds and constructed with funds from community and corporate donations.
“You don’t hear this enough, but thank you for your service in protecting public safety,” Vitter told the firefighters. “You are truly appreciated.”
“Sen. Vitter was very generous with his time, and the firefighters and staff were honored to meet him,” said FD12 Chief Darrell Guilott. “We were delighted he took time to visit with us about the loan forgiveness issue and to learn about our operations.”
For more information about Fire District 12, visit www.FD12.org.
