LEAD - On April 8, voters in a proposed Lead Fire Department taxing district will decide whether to increase annual funding for fire protection services in the areas in and south of Lead.

The Lawrence County Commission Tuesday approved the legal description of the boundaries of the proposed district. The district generally covers Terry Peak, Deer Mountain, Wharf Resources and Rochford Road (including the Bulldog Ranch) and rural areas in between. The city of Lead is also in the district.

The district has already been mapped by Lawrence County, as well as others, for territorial coverage of the departments. Whitewood and Spearfish Canyon fire departments have taxation districts.

The city of Lead provides $55,000 each year to the department, but Eggers said that is not enough to purchase a new structure protection truck and not enough to buy a replacement brush fire truck.

The commission also directed Lawrence County Auditor Connie Atkinson to set an election for the district plan. Atkinson said Tuesday an April 8 election date would coincide with local city and school elections.

If it passes public muster, a fire district governing board would be seated immediately and efforts would begin to allot of the district's resources. The governing board would oversee department operations, removing city oversight.

The board would have three representatives from Lead and two from outside of Lead.

The board would have taxing authority, but not regulatory power, such as the ability to tell people to cut nuisance trees, for instance.

Lead Fire Chief Tim Eggers projected a mil levy of .8 would generate approximately $180,000 annually for the district. It computes to about $80 per year for homes valued at $100,000. City taxpayers already pay $55 per $100,000 for fire, and would incur an additional $25 per year under the proposed plan.

Eggers said the district would be able to borrow money to build a new fire hall and buy trucks.