Paradise Valley Town Council members discussed the future of the town’s fire service fee during an Oct. 22 study session, with several members supporting eventually eliminating the fee and covering fire services through the general fund.
Leslie DeReche, the town’s chief financial officer, presented the history of the Fire Service Fund, its expenditures and collection costs, and options for addressing its ongoing deficit.
Before entering into an intergovernmental agreement with the city of Phoenix, Paradise Valley relied on private company Rural Metro to provide fire and emergency medical services, with property owners paying the company directly. The town later entered into an agreement with Phoenix for fire and emergency services to improve response times, increase efficiency and expand available resources.
