With signs held high saying "Axe the fire tax" and "Fire fee is not for me," businesses and homeowners in St. Cloud took to the streets on Saturday to make their voices heard. All those protesting said they can't afford to pay the newly-proposed fire fee.
"Our taxes are already so high. We can't afford another fee. We just can't," St. Cloud resident Jacqueline Cruz said.
Back in February the St. Cloud City Council realized they had a tough decision to make; raise taxes by creating a new fire fee, or face a $3 million deficit which could result in layoffs, and the inability to provide fire services to their growing population in a timely manner.
That fire fee could cost homeowners between $300-377 a year.
Local businesses would also pay big time: anywhere between $300 for a duplex owner to nearly $2,500 for those big box stores.
Samantha Brown, who owns the Phoenix Rising Radio Network, says that could devastate her business.
"It's going to trickle down to the customers and we could possibly lose our businesses," Brown said.
The council has spent the last few months evaluating their options. But so far they haven't been able to find an alternative to the fire fee.
"Once it's in, it will probably stay in and it isn't likely to come out. So I just hope they take the time to see what other options are out there," Brown said.
The city council will have their first public hearing on the fire fee this Thursday at City Council Chambers at 6:30 p.m.