Rockaway Beach held a public hearing in November to introduce and discuss an ordinance that would create a tax to fund emergency services, particularly fire services.
Rockaway Beach City Council voted in December 2018 to hire a full-time, paid fire chief. The new tax would be used for that expense. A revenue line for the tax was included in the budget, but the cost was not determined at the time.
During the public hearing that was held Nov. 13 at the regular city council meeting, it was announced the tax would be set at $5 per single-family home within city limits. Those who live outside of city limits but inside the local fire district already pay a fire service tax. There is reportedly more than $400 million in property to protect for the Rockaway Beach area.