Mississippi Fire Departments Share $15M

Fire departments around Mississippi this week are receiving checks for their share of $15.3 million in state fire insurance rebate money.

For example, the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports that departments in Lee County are sharing $438,573.

The money comes from a tax paid on fire insurance premiums.

When annual tax collections surpass a certain amount set by state law, the remainder is distributed to fire departments around the state.

In June, state Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney sent $7.6 million worth of checks to municipalities for their fire departments and $7.6 million to counties for their fire departments.

Amounts are based on the fire protection districts’ populations.