Below is the notice for our public forum that is scheduled for Thursday February 21st at 6:30pm at the Ridge Vol. Rescue Squad. All members of the community are encouraged to attend!

RIDGE VOLUNTEER RESCUE SQUAD, INC.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR
RESIDENTS OF THE FIRST ELECTION DISTRICT
PROPOSAL BY RIDGE VOLUNTEER RESCUE SQUAD
TO INCREASE THE RESCUE TAX EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2013

Residents of the First Election District have their EMS services provided by Ridge Volunteer Rescue Squad. The funding for this service is provided from several sources, principally the district-specific Rescue Tax, the county-wide Emergency Services Support Tax, and fund raising by the Ridge Volunteer Rescue Squad.

The Ridge Volunteer Rescue Squad is seeking approval from the Board of County Commissioners (Commissioners) to increase the Rescue Tax rate within the First Election District effective July 1, 2013. Ridge Volunteer Rescue Squad is seeking this increase because, in developing its FY 2014 budget, it has identified a need for additional funding in the amount of $24,022 annually. This increased funding is proposed to be raised by increasing the Rescue Tax rate from $.008 to $.011 per $100 of assessed value. Based on an estimated 3,948 properties in this district, the increase is expected to average $6.09 per property in the first year. Each property will be impacted differently. The actual amount of the increase will depend upon the value of the land and improvements as established by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing for residents of the First Election District will be held on February 21, 2013, at the Ridge Volunteer Rescue Squad building, 16515 Three Notch Road, Ridge, Md. beginning at 6:30 pm. At that time, a representative of Ridge Volunteer Rescue Squad will make a presentation regarding these budgetary needs, and respond to questions, as appropriate. Documents relating to this proposal, including audit report and budget information, are available at Ridge Volunteer Rescue Squad, 16515 Three Notch Road Ridge, Md. 20680, the Public Information Office, Chesapeake Building, 41770 Baldridge Street, Leonardtown, MD, 20650, and each of the three public libraries in St. Mary's County, during regular business hours. Public comment and participation is encouraged.

Written comments should be submitted to the attention of the Board of County Commissioners, PO Box 653, 41770 Baldridge Street, Leonardtown, MD 20650 through March 7, 2013. The Board of County Commissioners will accept testimony regarding this matter on April 30. 2013 at 6:30 p.m. at Chopticon High School, and would make a decision on May 28, 2013, in connection with the adoption of the annual budget for FY2014.