The Gates Rural Fire Protection District is asking the voters of the district to endorse additional funding for operations of the district fire department. Over the past three years the district has asked voters twice to approve increases in operations funding. District voters have said yes both times. However, in both instances, the additional funding was canceled because of the double majority voting requirements of Measures 47/50.

As a result, the district has had to curtail purchases of supplies for operations, and has made cuts in its programs of equipment maintenance and replacement.

The current tax rate for the district is $1.46 per $1,000 of property value. The Board of Directors recognizes that in order to continue a program of responsible emergency services to the patrons of the district there has to be an increase in the amount of revenue available to operate the fire department. Through a multi-year budgeting process, and the development of a long-range plan, the board has concluded that an increase of $.84 in the tax rate is necessary to avoid any further cutbacks in department operations.

This increase in the tax rate, if granted, would result in a new tax rate of $2.30 per $1,000 of property value. If voters pass this new option tax it will result in a tax rate of $2.30 for the next four years. For the owners of a $50,000 household this would equate to a $42.00 increase.

Providing this new four-year local option tax rate will allow for the fire department to reactivate its programs of equipment maintenance and replacement. It will provide adequate funding for yearly operations. Included in the planned use of funds is the replacement of outdated SCBA units, replacement of the SCBA air supply generator, and the continued replacement of turnout gear. It will also allow for replacement of fire hose and hardware, new tires for trucks, replacement of worn-out pagers for fire fighters, and replacement of several ladders.

Also included is the replacement of all the district radio equipment, both in-truck and hand-held units. This is necessitated by new regulations set forth by the FCC.

The additional funding will also allow the fire department to continue providing a high level of emergency response services that the patrons of the district have come to expect. Without this additional funding, the department will have to consider, at some point, potential cutbacks in the level of services available to the residents of the district. These types of cuts result in a lower level of emergency response services as well as a lower quality department. Insurance ratings can drop causing an increase in insurance rates for district households and businesses.

The provision of a four-year local option tax for the fire district will assure continued high quality emergency response services to the patrons of the Gates Rural Fire Protection District.

Submitted by:

Gerald F. Korson, Board Chairman

Gates Rural Fire Protection District

No arguments in favor of or opposed to this measure were filed.