A new social enterprise concept is being tested around New York City. The Fire Department wants to assess a fee for responding to automobile crashes and fires. The fees may seem relatively minor, but that depends on your income level. According to the New York Times:
The highest fee, $490, would apply when fire units respond to the locations of crashes or car fires that include injuries. For car fires with no injuries, the fee would be $415, Mr. Gribbon said. And for crashes in which no one is hurt, the fee would be $365, he said.
So why do I care you might ask? I care because it's one thing for a nonprofit to establish fees for certain services as a vehicle to offset its dependency on grants. It's another for a public sector entity to do the same. As I understand the purpose of police and fire departments in particular, it's to have these resources available for those occasions when disaster strikes. Homeowners and renters (via their rents) contribute to the tax pool so that when the unexpected occurs, someone will respond.
Yes, I know that municipalities like businesses and individuals are all experiencing economic challenges. But, charging fees for what taxpayers are already paying for? It's just not right.