Dear Village of Whitelaw Residents,
There have been a lot of questions regarding a recent change to your utility bill. A new Fire Protection Charge has been added to your monthly bill.
What is the Fire Protection Charge?
The Fire Protection Charge per the PSC is a” Charge that recovers the cost of providing water for fighting fires and the extra capacity built into the system that is necessary to rapidly deliver a large volume of water to a fire anywhere within the municipality’s water service area. These costs include a portion of the wells, pumps, storage facilities, water mains, hydrants and an estimated quantity of water used for this purpose.” Surrounding municipalities including Clevland, Reedsville, St. Nazianz, Kellnersville, Mishicot, and Two Rivers have the fire protection charge on their utility bills.
Fire protection used to be part of the general fund budget. The tax levy is a fixed amount the residents are charged and any increase or decrease in the fire protection amount does not change the residents taxes.
Why is this Charge Being Added?
The board approved the Fire Protection charged to be added to the monthly utility bills on July 1st, 2024. The PSC set a public hearing on August 22nd, 2024, that was open to the public via zoom. On September 16th the Judge approved this change.
How Much Will the Fire Protection Charge Be?
The amount of the charge will be a fixed rate every month based on the meter size at the residence. The Village of Whitelaw has one of the lowest rates in Manitowoc County.
What Does This Mean for You?
This is a small but necessary charge aimed at supporting the safety of all residents. The charge will appear as a separate line item on your bill, and it will be part of your regular utility charges each month.
If you have any concerns please don’t hesitate to reach out, or you go to the PSC website and direct your questions or file a complaint there.
https://psc.wi.gov/Pages/ServiceType/Water/FireProtection.aspx
Thank you for your understanding and continued support as we work to keep our community safe.