The District is presently unable to provide adequate response and quality service to its citizens due to the low staffing. To accommodate the increased growth, and additional emergencies, the Fire District’s Board of Directors has determined that hiring 2 full-time firefighters is appropriate to improve response with additional funds to improve conditions for volunteers, and, that it is appropriate that the issue be decided by the voters of the District.

The Fire District’s 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 Firefighters and reorganizing the volunteer firefighter program so personnel are available to respond to emergencies 24 hours a day. The District currently waits for volunteers to respond to the station which can take up to 9 minutes during the night, while during the day there are no regularly available volunteers to respond due to working outside the Fire District, leaving only the Fire Chief and a paid Captain to respond. This low level staffing is not an effective or safe service level for the community, its residents or current firefighters.

Factors prompting the Fire District’s Board of Directors to submit this measure:

• The lack of available volunteer firefighters,

• Increases in emergency response,

• Strenuous national and state training requirements,

• The inability to fund any additional staffing or reorganization of the volunteer firefighter program with the current permanent tax rate,

• The need to improve response due to growth in the Fire District.

The City of Sublimity’s population increased a total of 43% since between 1990 and 2000. In that same time period, emergency responses in the city increased 237%, while rural responses increased 207%. Comparisons between the 1990 and 2000 census show a decline of 25% of available residents who are “typical” volunteer firefighters.(based on age group)

Property valued at $100,000 will pay $8.16 per month to improve this vital public safety service.

Submitted by,

Alan W. McMahen, Fire Chief

Sublimity Rural Fire Protection District

No arguments opposed to this measure were filed.