LOCAL OPTION LEVY FOR FIRE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
Question: Shall TVF&R levy $0.69 per $1,000 assessed value for five years, beginning Fiscal Year 2025-2026?
This measure may cause property taxes to increase more than three percent.
Summary: Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue is seeking a levy for $0.69 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. Levies must be approved by voters and are limited to a maximum duration of five years. For a property assessed at $305,000, the average in TVF&R’s service area, the levy would cost approximately $17.54 a month.
If the levy does not pass, funding for at least 92 of 450 firefighters and paramedics would be lost and staffing reductions would be required.
If passed, levy funds will:
- Retain existing first responders and add 36 more.
- Improve service levels as emergency incidents are projected to increase over the next five years.
- Ensure prompt response times and reliability when multiple emergencies happen at the same time.
- Purchase specialized medical equipment such as cardiac monitors and defibrillators as well as critical firefighting tools including thermal imagers that aid in search and rescue and breathing apparatus worn by firefighters in burning buildings.
- Purchase vehicles used to fight wildfires, shuttle water, and transport patients.
- Add personnel who train and equip first responders.
An estimate of the revenue raised for each year of the proposed levy is:
FY 2026-2027: $ 56,354,401
FY 2027-2028: $ 58,776,263
FY 2028-2029: $ 61,302,205
FY 2029-2030: $ 63,936,696
The estimated tax cost for this measure is an ESTIMATE ONLY based on the best information available from the county assessors at the time of estimate and may reflect the impact of early payment discounts, compression, and the collection rate.
Explanatory Statement: Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue (TVF&R) provides fire suppression, emergency medical care, technical rescue, water rescue, hazardous material response, fire prevention, and risk reduction services to the cities of Beaverton, Durham, King City, Newberg, North Plains, Rivergrove, Sherwood, Tigard, Tualatin, West Linn, and Wilsonville, as well as unincorporated portions of Washington, Clackamas, Yamhill, and Multnomah counties.
What is the history behind this proposal?
TVF&R has had operating levies in place since 2000 to supplement its permanent tax rate which was frozen in 1997 due to Ballot Measure 50. Levies have primarily funded first responders. State law requires voter approval of levies, which are limited to a maximum duration of five years
What does this measure call for?
This measure proposes a five-year operating levy with a rate of $0.69 per $1,000 of assessed value. If the levy passes, collections would begin in July 2025.
What would the levy pay for?
If the levy passes, TVF&R will retain 92 existing levy-funded firefighters and paramedics, hire 36 more, and add support personnel who train and equip first responders to provide reliable service amidst rising emergency incidents and wildfire risk. Proceeds will also be used to purchase specialized medical equipment such as cardiac monitors and defibrillators, critical firefighting tools, including thermal imagers that aid in search and rescue and self-contained breathing apparatus worn by firefighters in burning buildings, and vehicles used to fight wildfires, shuttle water, and transport patients.
How much will the levy cost?
For a property assessed at $305,000, about the average in TVF&R’s service area, the cost of the levy would be approximately $210 per year or $17.54 per month.
What happens if the levy does not pass?
If the levy does not pass, reductions in staffing and operations will be required, which may impact response times and reliability.
What has TVF&R done with the levy funds voters approved in 2019?
- Hired or retained 92 levy-funded firefighters and paramedics
- Acquired fire hose, breathing apparatus, heart monitors, and medical kits
Will property tax bills increase if this measure is approved?
Yes, this measure may cause property taxes to increase by more than three percent. TVF&R intends to maintain the same levy rate for 10 years.
If passed, when would this levy first be collected?
The levy will appear on the November 2025 property tax statement.
What will the total tax rate for TVF&R be if the levy passes?
The total tax rate for TVF&R would be $2.3527 per $1,000 assessed valuation.
$1.5252/$1,000 Permanent rate
$0.69/$1,000 Levy being voted on
$0.1337/$1,000 Bonded debt
Submitted by:
Cassandra Ulven, Division Chief,
Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue District
