The Board of Directors is requesting funding for each of the five years for the following:

1. Hire two firefighters/paramedics to provide the District with adequate staffing to respond to fires and emergency medical calls.

2. To provide funds to purchase a new ambulance in 2003.

3. To provide funds to purchase a new fire engine in 2004.

4. To provide funds necessary for the operation of the District.

To fund operations, the District has depleted a building maintenance fund and is depleting reserve funds set aside for equipment purchases. These funds were saving accounts established over the years to cover costs to replace and maintain equipment, not to fund day-to-day operations. The District’s operating levy was established in 1990. The District’s operating costs have dramatically increased as the community has grown, as have the needs of our community, while revenues have not kept pace.

The District is served by 38 volunteer firefighters and 17 paid personnel, who responded to 2387 calls for service in 2001. Calls for service have increased 11% to date and the District anticipates responding to 2649 calls for service in 2002. The District covers approximately 10 square miles.

The District’s permanent tax rate is $1.3526 per $1,000 of assessed property valuation. The cost for General Obligations approved in 1995 to construct the new fire station is $0.1994 per $1,000. This will end in 2016. Approval of this local option levy would represent an additional $.35 per thousand or $35 per year for a $100,000 home. The estimated tax cost for this measure is an ESTIMATE ONLY based on the best information available from the county assessor at the time of the estimate.

Keizer Fire Protection District is not part of the city or county but is a “special service district”, a unit of government equal to a city or county. It was created by a vote of the people in 1948. It is governed by an elected Board of Directors who are residents of the District. As elected representatives of the District residents, their responsibility is to represent the interests of the District residents by making policy decisions that ensure the highest level of fire and life safety services provided in the most cost effective manner.

Further information can be obtained by calling 503-390-9111 or at www.keizerfire.com.

Submitted by:

R. Mark Miedema, President, Board of Directors