ORANGEBURG COUNTY, S.C. — Residents and businesses located roughly five miles outside of Orangeburg city limits have to have a fire contract with the city.
For over 7 years, the city and the county of Orangeburg have been trying to reach an agreement that they say will lower insurance costs those with contracts.
The proposed plan would mean businesses and residents on the outskirts of the city would pay a millage to the county instead of a fire tax to the city.
City administrator Sidney Evering says this might save them money in the long run.
“They don’t have to do anything in terms of coming in to the city and paying for a fire tax contract. It will be covered by the millage, but it will also likely decrease their insurance premiums," said Evering."So that's a benefit. And we have just run some rough numbers, and in all likelihood, the millage they pay annually will be less than the actual fire contract itself.”
Teddy Wolfe is the director of the Orangeburg County Fire District. He says home and business owners should always make sure they're covered.
“You don’t know what you need until the disaster hits, and you can tell them that it may not happen today or tomorrow, but when it does happen and you don’t have a fire contract, it's just going to make things that much more devastating for you.”
The deadline for the city and county to reach an agreement is October 1st.