VICTOR, N.Y. — The Board of Fire Commissioners voted unanimously Monday to dissolve the Fishers Fire District despite a massive amount of public pushback.
The district covers 26 square miles of Victor, including Eastview Mall and part of I-90. They will now be forced to close by October 1st at 7 a.m.
The decision was made at a public meeting at Victor Senior High School Monday night. About 100 people showed up opposing the dissolution, with many voicing their concerns despite the Board not allowing public comment.
As News10NBC has covered, the Board of Fire Commissioners has been seeking to dissolve the department because of financial sustainability. Over the last 10 years, the fire board of commissioners says the Fishers Fire District tax levy has more than tripled, rising from $1.6 million in 2015 to $5.3 million this year. A tax levy is the seizure of property to pay taxes owed.
The current Board blamed the previous Board for those longtime financial issues, saying they reached out to nearby fire districts about merging, but were denied.
“Once the new board , us, got control of the board in January of 2023, we immediately started conversations with both Victor Fire District and Mendon Fire District about merging,” said Commissioner Fred Dewey.
“But they both said, ‘no way, your costs are way, way too high. If we merge with you, our taxes will go up astronomically just like yours happened. We are not going to do that.’”
But many in attendance, like Erie Linke, a disabled veteran living in the district, voiced his disappointment in the decision.
“I agree, this was expensive, but 99% of our people wanted them,” said Linke, referring to the District.
Now, 26 full time firefighters will be without a job come October. Those with the department feel the decision was made without full consequences in mind.
“[The Board has] no concern for public safety,” said Asst. Fire Chief Michael Koch of the Fishers FD.
“They strictly only talked about their concern for finances. There was never a concern, never a thought about what happens to public safety when they cut services. It was strictly about cutting taxes. And they have never gotten into this for public safety to begin with. All of them ran on tax reduction platforms. None of them ever cared about the people that they served. They’re all public servants who forgot the primary thing they’re supposed to do, and that’s serve the public.”
Town of Victor leaders have been working on a plan to make sure that fire services will continue without interruption if the Fishers Fire District were to dissolve.
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