Anything that could help slash property taxes for Lower Hudson Valley residents is going to get a lot of attention. So a recent report by Pace University that said taxpayers could potentially save $47 million by consolidating fire services in several lower Westchester County towns got readers talking.
This is what one reader had to say about the potential success of consolidation:

REALITY: Even if they did save $47 million, our leaders are so shabby that they will initially spend $100 million figuring out how to do it and then another additional and perpetual $75 million a year on appointed cronies and hangers-on to implement it.

Does anyone think that (the fire chiefs) would be willing to give up their posts so that we can have one big department? All fire departments have different methods on how to fight a fire. It would take years to agree on which method would be best. Change is slow when it comes to fire departments. Civil service mentality!

$47 million a year hardly seems worth it when you spread that out over all the towns that covers. Consider this, your house is on fire, do you want someone coming from 4 minutes away or 10 minutes away?  … Fire tax gets spread over homeowners at a rate of x per thousand of assessed value and is usually included with the county and town tax. … No one will even notice it on their tax bill.

Now you are going to hear from the individual departments about how much more it’s really going to cost, and how services will de diminished, yada, yada, yada. It’s about the few people in the department who enjoy their position of power and esteem and don’t wan’t to give it up. I’m sure fire departments can be consolidated but if you really want to save money start pressing the schools districts. They are responsible for 60 percent of your property tax bill.