Smiths Station Fire Department launches new billing portal, announces future rate changes
The Smiths Station Fire Department has launched a new online billing portal designed to make it easier for residents and property owners to manage their fire district accounts.
Smiths Station Fire Protection District’s payment portal goes live in 2026. (Image/Colin Scroggins)
Fire Chief Blake Green said the portal, which went live in February, allows customers to view account balances, access past bills and make payments online. The system replaces a previous billing platform that was often difficult for customers to navigate.
“With this portal, customers can actually see their current balance and not have to rely solely on a billing statement or calling the office,” Green said. “What they see in the portal is exactly what we see in our system.”
The new system offers several features aimed at making billing more convenient. Customers can enroll in electronic billing, receive text notifications about account activity and set up automatic payments. Residents can also access previous statements and monitor their balances in real time.
According to Green, the portal also improves communication between the fire district and the community. Customers who provide their email address and phone number can receive billing alerts, payment reminders and confirmations by text or email.
The notification system can also be used to send district-wide alerts, such as severe weather updates or important announcements affecting the fire district.
“It gives us a way to communicate with everyone who has a customer account with us with just a couple of mouse clicks,” Green said.
Another new feature allows property owners with multiple parcels to link all of their properties under one login. Previously, separate payments were required for each property.
In addition to the online portal, the department has also introduced a 24-hour automated phone payment system. The system allows residents to make payments at any time of day, including nights, weekends and holidays.
Rate increase and billing changes coming in 2026
The fire district is also preparing for changes to its billing structure beginning in October 2026.
Green said the district will implement a 12.05 percent rate increase starting Oct. 1, 2026. At the same time, the district plans to shift from monthly billing statements to quarterly statements.
The change is intended to reduce the amount of mail the department sends and help residents better keep track of their bills.
Smiths Station Fire Chief Blake Green sits down to discuss the payment portal, new rate change on Mar. 16, 2026. (Image/Colin Scroggins)
“We’ve heard numerous complaints from people saying they forget about an $11-a-month bill,” Green said. “Moving to quarterly statements should help align it with other bills like garbage service.”
While billing statements will be sent quarterly, residents will still have the option to pay monthly, quarterly, semiannually or annually.
Currently, the typical monthly fire district fee is about $11, but after the increase, it will rise to roughly $17 per month, depending on the property. Some residents who pay a separate $50 Lee County fee could see a monthly cost closer to $13.
Green said the upcoming adjustment will be the first rate increase since the district began billing four years ago.
Funding supports staffing and equipment
According to Green, the increase will help the department expand staffing and address equipment and facility needs.
Firefighting equipment hangs on the wall as crews prepare for calls on Mar. 16, 2026. (Image/Colin Scroggins)
The Smiths Station Fire Department has transitioned toward providing more consistent fire and emergency medical coverage, which requires additional personnel and resources.
“The facilities we have now were designed for a volunteer fire department,” Green said. “As we move toward 24-hour staffing, we need to make changes to accommodate paid staff.”
Funding from the increase would also help cover equipment needs and rising operational costs.
Growing community and service demand
The fire district currently serves a population of about 36,000 residents and maintains roughly 13,700 accounts, which largely represent structures within the district.
Smiths Station fire trucks on standby for calls on Mar. 16, 2026. (Image/Colin Scroggins)
About 10,000 of those accounts are active, with the rest removed because they involve vacant land or areas served by other departments, such as Phenix City.
Green said the department is currently auditing all accounts to ensure billing records and contact information are accurate.
The district’s fire and EMS services remain busy, responding to roughly 3,200 calls each year.
According to Green, the high call volume and variety of emergency responses have helped attract firefighters from across the region.
“Firefighters want to be firefighters,” Green said. “The call volume we have and the types of calls we respond to allow them to use the skills they trained for.”
Fire district funding is improving response rates
Since the district began collecting the service fee, the department has seen a dramatic improvement in response coverage.
Smiths Station fire engine sits in station bay on Mar. 16, 2026. (Image/Colin Scroggins)
In 2022, the department was unable to respond to about 33 percent of calls. Last year, that number dropped to less than 0.7 percent, according to Green.
“I don’t know of a better number that demonstrates the effectiveness of this fee,” he said.
The additional staffing has also improved the department’s ability to respond to large incidents and severe weather events. Smiths Station has experienced significant storms in the past, including an EF-4 tornado, making emergency preparedness a priority.
“When multiple calls occur at the same time, having more staff allows us to divide and conquer,” Green said.
Outreach to property owners and renters
The fire district fee is assessed to property owners, based on information listed in Lee County tax records.
Smiths Station Fire Protection District Station 1 is open for business on Mar. 16, 2026. (Image/Colin Scroggins)
While renters often contact the department with questions, Green said any arrangement for paying the fee between a landlord and tenant is handled privately between those parties.
The department has also begun working with local realtor associations to ensure new homebuyers are informed about the fire district fee during property transactions.
Community engagement is encouraged
Green said maintaining a strong relationship with the community remains a priority for the department. Firefighters regularly participate in local events and encourage residents to stay informed about fire district operations.
Helmets lay on top of the shelf at the fire station on Mar. 16, 2026. (Image/Colin Scroggins)
Smiths Station Fire District board meetings are held on the first Tuesday of every month at Fire Station 1. A work session begins at 7 p.m., followed by the official meeting at 7:30 p.m.
Both meetings are open to the public.
Despite challenges over the past several years, Green said the department has made significant progress.
“The last few years have been tough,” he said. “But through the support of the community and the people we have here, our department is in a much better place than it was, and we’re headed in the right direction.”
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