The Franklin County Board of County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on August 4, 2009 to hear from the public on plans to increase local MSBU assessments that help fund volunteer fire departments and medical rescue units.

Volunteer fire departments are seeking an increase in the annual assessments to help cover the increasing costs of operating a fire department. The current assessment has remained the same for the past 7 years.

Homeowners currently pay $42.00 per home; firefighters are seeking to increase that to $57.00. Similar increases for commercial businesses and a new $30.00 fee for vacant lots are being asked for.