MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Recently Memphis Light, Gas and Water have been in the spotlight for its share of billing issues. Several customers have found themselves with multiple expensive bills after meters failed.
Now some Shelby County residents are wondering why they keep seeing fire protection fees every month. However, instead of coming from the utility company, these charges are coming from the Shelby County Fire Department.
The question about what are these fire protective service fees have been floating around online from MLGW customers on Nextdoor and Reddit.
"Wow! How many MLGW customers in unincorporated Shelby County paying over $500 yearly for fire protection services that never use one bit of it? Seems like a lot of money to me," said one person on Nextdoor.
Since 1972, SCFD has been using the utility company to act as a messenger for these fees in order to cut down on costs from postage.
According to Brent Perkins with SCFD, these fees make up a majority of the department’s yearly budget. Over 51,000 see these fees in unincorporated Shelby County, equating to more than $28,000,000. The money covers employees, engines and equipment at the 11 SCFD fire stations.
Unlike places like Memphis, Collierville and Millington, no part of the general fund in Shelby County goes towards SCFD, which is the main reason why these fees now exist.
The Shelby County Fire Department says this approach saves it more than $380,000 a year.
Other organizations also use MLGW as a messenger every month. Some people see sewer, storm water or mosquito control on their MLGW bills every month, which come from the City of Memphis.