Insurance Rates in Atlanta Could Go Up

ATLANTA -- Insurance rates inside the city of Atlanta could go up because of fire department budget cuts.

A new study shows the city's fire safety rating has dropped, which means homeowners could be required to pay as much as ten percent more.

For the first time since 1974, a private rating agency called the ISO or Insurance Services Office has taken a hard look at fire safety in the city of Atlanta, and the findings are discouraging.

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the best, Atlanta used to score a rating of 2.

But the latest report shows the city has slipped to a rating of 4.

The drop is dramatic enough that the cost of insurance for homeowners and businesses could increase as much as 10 percent, according to Georgia Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner John Oxendine.

He said the report shows deficiencies in the fire department's training, staffing and coverage. Last year, the city closed Fire Station 7 permanently and Fire Station 23 for at least six months. Some firefighters have been laid off and others forced to take furloughs.

"If all of their built fire stations were occupied and fully staffed, they would have great coverage," Oxendine said. "The problems is, some have been closed, and there are also brownouts."

The city now has three months to improve it's score or homeowners could be the ones to pay the price.

Even if Atlanta's rating drops a point or two, Atlanta would remain one of the state's highest-rated cities.