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Area fire districts seek funds for staffing, equipment needs BY PETER WONG Chiefs of three rural fire protection districts in Jackson County say property tax increases on the Nov. 3 ballot are prompted largely by their needs to replace aging equipment and restore personnel cuts. Two other measures ask voters whether Talent should become part of Fire District 5, but identical annexation measures in Talent and District 5 do not request more property taxes. If voters approve annexation, the tax rate will be the same in both areas when the new tax year starts July 1. The earliest that any of these measures can take effect is with the 1999-2000 tax bills. Perhaps the most unusual measure is a request by Fire District 3, which covers the Central Point and White City areas, for a five-year levy of just 9 cents per $1,000 of taxable value for its equipment replacement fund. That's barely 3 percent of the district's 1998-99 tax rate of $3.12. "It's short enough and small enough so that it's not a bitter pill, but it's long enough to give us time to plan a replacement fund," said Chief Randy Iverson. "We have some shortfalls because of the restrictions of past (tax limit) measures. What we are looking for is a way to make sure we can sustain the reliability of our responding fleet. This would be a supplement that will allow us not to fall behind." Iverson said the district spends close to $200,000 annually for replacement of some of its 37 vehicles. Recent tax-limit measures that voters approved in 1996 and 1997 rolled back taxable values of property, reduced projected amounts of taxes and fixed tax rates for local governments, and limited future annual growth of most property values to 3 percent. Local governments can seek voter approval of tax measures outside the limits but only for fixed periods. Fire District 5, which covers areas outside Phoenix, Talent and Ashland, won voter approval in May 1997 for a supplemental two-year levy that boosted the district's tax rate to almost $4 per $1,000 of value. Chief Dan Marshall said the district would have had to lay off three firefighters without the supplemental levy, but it and subsequent retirements have given the district some leeway. The district's permanent maximum rate of $3.19 is scheduled to take effect next July 1, when that levy ends, and Marshall said that rate will apply to all taxpayers in the district if voters approve the district's annexation of the city of Talent Nov. 3. Approval is required from Talent voters of Measure 15-85 and district voters of Measure 15-79. District 5 has provided fire suppression and prevention, emergency medical services and response to hazardous materials spills in the city under contract for the past year. "We feel that both the district and city win," Marshall said. "This annexation would not compromise service levels to the people in Fire District 5. City residents will be provided 24-hour coverage for fire and life safety services. Both would gain longterm financial stability." Marshall said the Fire District 5 board does not contemplate asking voters for another supplemental levy outside the property tax limits, assuming that the annexation is approved. The Applegate district in western Jackson County and eastern Josephine County seeks a five-year levy of $1 per $1,000. Chief Brett Fillis said the money would enable the district to staff the headquarters station in Ruch around the clock _ it now is staffed on day shifts weekdays _ and replace pumpers dating back to 1964 and 1968. The Applegate fire station on North Applegate Road would accommodate larger vehicles. The district staffs six stations across 181 square miles. "It's changing demographically," Fillis said. "The type of person who builds a house valued at $250,000 or more is not typically one who volunteers for firefighting. They're also generally older and require more emergency medical services." The Rogue River district seeks two levies. One is a five-year levy of 37.3 cents per $1,000 for operations. "It would help us make up losses because of those (tax limit) measures," said Chief Greg Winfrey. "It also would give us the funds for additional training we need because of federal and state requirements." The other is a 10-year levy of 29.5 cents per $1,000 for equipment replacement. Though the tax limits did not deplete its replacement fund, Winfrey said, "we otherwise would not be able to maintain replacement of our protective equipment or firefighting supplies." Summary of fire measures Summary of fire district measures on the Nov. 3 ballot. Approved measures take effect with the 1999-2000 property tax bills next fall: Fire District 3 (Central Point, White City and nearby areas) : A tax of 9 cents per $1,000 of taxable property value for replacement of emergency vehicles. Measure 15-84 would raise $553,577 over five years. The district's 1998-99 tax rate is $3.12 per $1,000. Fire District 5 (rural areas outside Phoenix, Talent and Ashland) : Measure 15-79 proposes that district voters annex the city of Talent; Measure 15-85 proposes that city voters join the district. Both must pass for the annexation to occur. The district's maximum 1999-2000 tax rate, which will apply in Talent and the rest of the district, is $3.19 per $1,000. Applegate Rural Fire Protection District : A tax of $1 per $1,000 would provide for 24-hour coverage at the headquarters station in Ruch and replacement of two aging pumpers and other equipment. Measure 15-78 would raise $1,241,327 over five years. The district's 1998-99 tax rate is $1.68 per $1,000. Rogue River Rural Fire Protection District : A tax of 37.3 cents per $1,000 would provide for one more full-time firefighter/emergency medical technician, one office clerk and three seasonal firefighters, and additional training for firefighters to comply with state and federal requirements. Measure 15-96 would raise $656,519 over five years. Another tax of 29.5 cents per $1,000 would raise money for replacement of aging equipment. Measure 15-97 would raise $1,167,324 over 10 years. The district's 1998-99 tax rate is $2.36 per $1,000. Sources: Fire districts, Jackson County Assessment Department Mail Tribune Copyright � interRogue & The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA