Two new multiple choice questions on Decatur’s Open City Hall website deal with tax levels and whether residents have the stomach for an increase.

The first question is similar to an unofficial poll I recently threw up on DM…

In today’s current economic condition, it is the City’s goal to maintain the existing levels of service at current property tax rates. If that is not possible, which of the following options would you prefer?

• Maintain tax rate, decrease levels of service
• Maintain levels of service, increase tax rate up to one-half of a mill ($100 per year on a $400,000 property)
• Maintain levels of service, increase tax rate up to one mill ($200 per year on a $400,000 property)
• Decrease tax rate no matter how much it decreases levels of service

The second has to do with a potential new bond referendum to renovate the Police Department, Fire Station 1 and Rec Center…

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GLC writes in that he’s considering purchasing a home very close to the location of the new Oakhurst fire station and wonders whether there are any noise ordinances on the books that apply to the Decatur Fire Dept. The only thing I can find in the city’s noise ordinance is an EXEMPTION for city emergency vehicles.

So to help GLC out, I appeal to the expansive knowledge of my readers. What’s your experience living next to or near a fire station? (if it was the old Oakhurst fire station, even better) Are the sirens frequent and obnoxious?