SUBLIMITY RURAL FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICTMEASURE NO. 24-66SUBLIMITY RURAL FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT FIVE-YEAR LOCAL OPTION TAX LEVY FOR OPERATIONS. QUESTION: Shall Sublimity Fire District levy up to 88¢ per $1000 of assessed value general operation for five years beginning 2001/2002? This measure may cause property taxes to increase more than three percent. SUMMARY: This measure may be passed only at an election with at least a 50 percent voter turnout. The Board of Directors has determined that the lack of available daytime volunteers for fires, emergency medical aids and other emergencies is insufficient and warrants hiring of paid personnel. This levy provides funds to be used to hire, support and equip paid personnel as a supplement to the volunteer firefighters at the Fire District. This five-year local option tax would start July 2001/2002 and is computed each year at a rate not to exceed 88¢ per $1000 assessed property value. An estimate of the total amount to be raised each fiscal year is:
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT The Sublimity Rural Fire Protection District is not a part of the city or county but is a "special service district" protecting 40 square miles of Marion County including the City of Sublimity. The Fire Districts Board of Directors is requesting that the taxpayers of the district consider a 5-year local option levy for the specific purpose of hiring and equipping paid personnel. The levy would not exceed 88¢ per $1000 assessed value during 5 years starting FY 2001-2002. Numerous factors prompt the Districts Board to submit this measure. Including an increasing number of emergencies not responded to, the serious lack of available volunteer firefighters, continuing population growth, increased emergency responses, increased commuter traffic, strenuous national and state training requirements and the inability to fund any additional staffing with the current permanent tax rate. Sublimity's population has increased from 1493 (1990) to 2431 (2000)(PSU data), a total increase of 162%. In that same time period emergency responses increased from 219 annually to 551 annually (251%), and the number of available volunteer firefighters dropped from 33 to 13 (253% decrease), with no volunteers available to respond on some occasions. This District is presently unable to provide adequate response and quality service to its citizens due to low volunteer staffing. To accommodate the increased growth, the additional emergencies, and the reduction in volunteer firefighters, the Districts Board of directors have determined that hiring full-time firefighters is appropriate to improve response, and that it is appropriate that the issue be decided by the voters of the District. Alan W. McMahen, Fire Chief Sublimity Rural Fire Protection District No arguments in favor of or opposed to this measure were filed. |