FIVE-YEAR LOCAL OPTION TAX FOR EQUIPMENT AND PERSONNEL
QUESTION: Shall the Scappoose Fire District impose $.66 per $1,000 assessed value for 5-years for equipment and personnel beginning 2002-2003? 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 50 percent voter turnout.
A “yes” vote on this measure is a vote to increase taxes.
The approval of this tax would allow for additional paid firefighter/medical positions and funds needed for fire and ambulance equipment and facility repair. The Scappoose Fire District’s goal is to have 2 paid personnel on duty 24-hours per day. This would allow for a paramedic-staffed ambulance to respond to emergencies immediately. The District currently waits for volunteer personnel to respond to the station prior to answering your emergency call for help.
The Scappoose Fire District’s tax rate of $1.1145 per $1,000 assessed value is deemed to be inadequate to properly insure fire and ambulance service. Due to the continuing growth in the community, emergency alarms have increased 54% since 1998. This increase has become extremely demanding for our volunteer force. The Fire district’s objective is to utilize paid staff and volunteers to provide consistent full-time coverage to operate the fire and ambulance service.
The tax increase on a $100,000 home would be $66.00 per year for 5 years. The proposed rate will raise approximately $368,280 in 2002-2003, $379,328 in 2003-2004, $390,708 in 2004-2005, $402,429 in 2005-2006 and $414,501 in 2006-2007. 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.
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
The Scappoose Rural Fire District provides fire and ambulance service to over 10,500 citizens in Scappoose, Chapman, Holbrook, and Warren areas. The District is seeking a 5-year local option levy.
It is the goal of the District to maintain an adequate level of service using volunteer firefighters/medical personnel. However, due to the continuing growth in population we have seen a large increase in emergency alarms. The District responded to 1156 incidents in 2001 which is an average of over 3 emergency calls for help each day. Each emergency ambulance transport takes an average of 2-1/2 hours and the majority of the calls for help are medically related. This amount of time is very demanding on volunteers. The District is seeking the levy to hire additional paid firefighter/emergency medical technicians thereby improving 24-hour coverage and reducing emergency response times.
The District currently has one (1) paid firefighter/paramedic on duty 24-hours per day. It is important to have two (2) paid personnel on duty 24-hours per day to allow for at least one (1) paramedic-staffed ambulance to respond to emergencies immediately. Currently the paid firefighter/paramedic must wait for volunteer personnel to respond to the station prior to answering your emergency call for help. Many of the emergency calls for help come at the same time. There are certain times of the day that the District does not have enough volunteers available to help. Hiring one (1) firefighter/paramedic will allow the emergency ambulance to respond immediately, we will then rely on volunteers to assist with the second and third emergency calls for help.
What happens if the measure fails?
In 2001, the District responded to 1156 incidents – a 54% increase since 1998. As the number of incidents continue to increase, residents will probably see delays in response to their emergency. The District will continue to have one (1) firefighter/paramedic who will wait for volunteer personnel to respond to the station. After volunteers arrive at the fire station, then they can respond to your medical and fire emergency call for help. It will be very difficult to answer the second and third emergency calls for help.
If the levy is approved, the additional revenue would be used to:
- Hire Firefighter/Paramedics to complete staffing of one ambulance
- Purchase and upgrade lifesaving fire and medical equipment
- Purchase equipment to support emergency operations
- Repair and upgrade District fire stations
What will it cost me?
Homeowners with a house assessed at $100,000 will pay an additional $66 per year or $5.50 per month.
Submitted by:
David Sorenson, President, Board of Directors
Scappoose Rural Fire Protection District
No arguments FOR or AGAINST this measure were filed.