In the past few years, the Ashaway Fire District has struggled to attract the requisite number of voters necessary to be able to pass an annual budget. It has taken calls to neighbors and former volunteers still to get enough votes to meet the district’s protocols of having a minimum of 22 votes to be considered official.
If the complete lack of participation continues when the annual budget goes before the public for a vote during the annual meeting in July, it could mean a considerable increase of $100 or more for many taxpayers in the district, or worse yet, the complacency could leave officials without any choice but to reduce or eliminate emergency response services currently provided by the Ashaway Ambulance Association, Inc.
The choice will truly be up to Ashaway taxpayers — but Ashaway Fire District board member Robert Greene said this week that it is important residents come out, hear the facts and help the community find a solution before it is too late.