ELMIRA HEIGHTS, N.Y. (WENY) -- There is a possibility of a Joint Fire District for local fire departments. This evening, the Town of Horseheads Council weighed in.  

The Mayor of the Village of Elmira Heights, Margaret Smith, helped organize an informational meeting with the Town of Horseheads Council. 

“A few months ago, I was approached by the Town Supervisor of Horseheads, saying that the town and village up there, in Horseheads, were thinking about exploring the idea of a fire district,” she said.  

The meeting was set up to discuss the possible formation of a Joint Fire District for the Town and Village of Horseheads, and the Village of Elmira Heights. This would mean, three fire departments would effectively become one, under a singular fire district.  

“The bottom line is...is the decrease in volunteerism,” she said. “They're having trouble recruiting people. They think, if you have a district...that might solve some of that problem but that's not 100 percent clear.”  

The council invited District Attorney Terry Hannigan to answer any legal questions the council had. Hannigan said, in the long-run, a singular fire district would benefit taxpayers. 

“Some people will probably pay less, some people will probably pay more, but in the end...they'll all be paying the same and that's really the...that's the objective in terms of the whole regionalization,” he said. 

Smith said, after tonight's meeting, it is back to the drawing board. The council aims to meet with the three fire departments to discuss what comes next. 

WENY News will continue to give updates to this story.