Three Deschutes County fire districts are sending five-year levies to voters in May to add staff, cut response times
Barney Lerten
Meanwhile, the region’s largest money measure would fund new libraries in Madras and Culver
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Three fire districts around Deschutes County plan to ask voters for new or higher five-year tax levies in measures on the May 19 primary election ballot to add firefighter-EMTs and wildfire risk reduction staff, deal with rising costs and cut response times.
The largest of the three is Measure 9-182, which would raise an estimated $5.8 million for the Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire District, to fund fire, EMS and wildfire preparedness staffing over its 800-square-mile district.
“Emergency calls for service have increased 65% over 10 years,” the measure filing states. “Medical calls now account for 70% of responses, and overlapping emergencies have increased 35% in the past eight years.”
The levy would fund three additional firefighter-paramedics for the district, as well as a new wildfire risk reduction coordinator, a mechanic to maintain vehicles and seasonal wildfire risk reduction personnel.
If approved, the levy would set a property tax rate of 70 cents per $1,000 of taxable assessed value. For a $317,000 home, the annual cost would be about $225, the fire district said.
The Cloverdale Rural Fire Protection District also is proposing a five-year local option levy, for staffing and operations. It would raise about $3.68 million over the five years and assess a rate of $1.23 per $1,000 of assessed value. It would replace a current levy of 69 cents per $1,000 of assessed value.
Like Sisters-Camp Sherman, the increased Cloverdale RFPD levy would fund a community wildfire risk reduction specialist. That person would engage homeowners on lowering their wildfire risk, and work on grant funded and cross-boundary fuels mitigation projects.
The new staff member would be tasked with creating a wildland fire resiliency plan and secure funding to support residents’ efforts.
The levy also would fund three shift captains and three student firefighters, as well as other operating costs.
“The added positions strengthen daytime response capabilities when volunteer and student staffing is limited, providing added personnel for emergencies,” the measure summary states.
The Alfalfa Fire District will seek a five-year levy of $1.75 per $1,000 of assessed property value for added staffing, That’s about $350 a year for the owner of a home assessed at $200,000. Over the five years, it’s estimated it would raise about $955,000.
Officials say the levy revenue would be used exclusively to fund two new full-time firefighter-EMT positions, to improve response capacity, reduce response times and support 24-hour emergency services.
You can find more information on those measures at the Deschutes County election page, along with who is running for a variety of offices. The candidate filing deadline is next Tuesday, May 10.
But those are not the biggest money measure heading for Central Oregon ballots.
The Jefferson County Library District will ask voters to approve a $15.9 million bond measure to build, furnish and equip a new library building in Madras, and one in Culver as well. The existing Madras library would be improved to serve as a multi-use facility, including community meeting space.
The average annual tax rate is estimated at 41 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.
You can learn more about that measure and who has filed for various Jefferson County races at their election page. Crook County also has a similar page listing their primary candidates.