The 16 paid and volunteer fire departments in Rusk County were funded to the tune of about $1 million during 2018, the chief of the tax-supported countywide fire district told the Rusk County Commissioners Court at its meeting Monday.
David Burks, board president of Rusk County Emergency Services District No. 1, also reported that the disbursement of annual tax revenue included a guaranteed $20,000 for each department except for tiny Garrison, which got $6,100 last year.
The taxing district operates on a 7 3/4-cent tax that fueled a nearly $1.7 million budget, which closed out the calendar year with an ending balance of nearly $98,700.
Total allotments from the emergency services district are based on the number of calls each department answers.