§ 57.12. Annual charges.

Charges for fire protection shall be as follows:

(1)

Commencing January 1, 1977, the applicant shall pay an annual minimum charge of four dollars ($4.00) for each ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) or fraction thereof of assessed valuation of the real property upon which buildings and other property are kept and for which fire protection is to be furnished, said assessed valuation to be determined by the latest figures shown on the books of the county auditor or department of property taxation. Additionally, the total charge shall include a cumulative percentage increase for each year since 1977, and in all subsequent years commencing in January of each year, equal to the percentage of annual salary increases granted a Saint Paul firefighter. All contracts wherein the charge for fire services is based upon the assessed valuation of property formula set forth herein, or upon a flat rental, shall, upon being entered into, renewed, extended or renegotiated, provide for an annual increase based upon the percentage increase of salary of a firefighter. If the annual payments based upon said assessed valuation, as so increased, shall be less than the following minimum charges, then the applicant shall pay in lieu thereof minimum charges as follows:

a.

In case the applicant is a church, it shall pay annually a minimum charge of fifty dollars ($50.00).

b.

In case the applicant is a city or other governmental subdivision, it shall pay an annual minimum charge of three hundred dollars ($300.00).

c.

In case the applicant is a partnership, association or private corporation, except a church, it or they shall pay a minimum annual charge of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00). "Association," as used in this subparagraph shall not be construed as including groups of individuals who are associated together solely for the purpose of fire protection.

(2)

These annual charges shall be paid irrespective of whether the applicant during the year requires or requests the services of the equipment and personnel of the department of fire and safety services. Such charges shall be in addition to the charges for equipment and personnel actually used for fire protection for the applicant.

(Code 1956, § 205.12)