With a decline in volunteers and a need to maintain vehicles and buildings, Iberia Parish Fire District No. 1 will likely be asking for a new tax next year to keep the department operational. 

Speaking at the Iberia Parish Council’s Executive Committee meeting Wednesday, Fire Chief Guy Bonin said the 3.5 mills proposal, which will generate an estimated $1.4 million, will be the first new source of revenue for the fire district in 32 years. 

“We’ve had some rough patches just like everyone else,” Bonin said at the meeting. “We’ve had to borrow money from bonds to make ends meet and we’ve always paid those back. I think we’ve been good stewards of our money but we can’t continue with what we have now.”

Bonin said the main use of the new tax will be to revitalize many of the volunteer fire departments overseen by the fire district. 

After renovations are made to the main station, Bonin said the fire district will use the funds to add a housing section to the Coteau station in order to have full-time personnel. 

“We’re busy on that side (Coteau),” Bonin said. “We’ll move through all of our stations from Rynella, B.O.M., Grand Marais will probably be last because it’s the newest station. All of these buildings need to be done.”

Bonin said the fire district has fire trucks that are over 25 years old. Although reliable, Bonin said the district needs the funding to be able to maintain those trucks. The district used bond money to purchase bunker gear, air packs and two new fire trucks as well as a third with funds that came from the budget. 

“We have to pay (the bond) for eight more years, we can do that with what we have but we just won’t be able to buy anything else.”

Bonin said attracting firefighters has been an issue as well, and if approved the new millage will likely be used for salaries that will hopefully entice more potential recruits. 

“I’ve been doing this 37 years and I’ve never not had people to pick from,” Bonin said. “I have five positions right now where I cannot find a person.”