The Walker County Board of Commissioners voted in 2023 to maintain the current level of fire service for residents and businesses by making an adjustment to the county’s public safety fee. The new rate calls for a $0.14 fee per square foot on all buildings, with a minimum of $125 and maximum of $600 to be charged on a residential house, mobile home, duplex or triplex. The new rate will cost the average homeowner in unincorporated Walker County and the city of Chickamauga about $5 more per month.
While residential dwellings account for a majority of all units in Walker County, the minimum and maximum amounts charged for agricultural, commercial and industrial buildings have also been adjusted. The revised fee structure will generate about $5.45 million annually to fund fire services at their current level, which includes 24/7/365 operations at seven fire stations.