Fire Prevention & Life Safety Services
RESULTS OF THE APRIL 7TH REFERENDUM
On April 7, 2009, residents of the District approved, by a 10 vote margin, a 0.09% increase in the tax rate to a Tax Limit of 0.4112%. The owner of a $300K home will likely see an increase of $90 beginning with taxes that will be paid in May 2010. In 1940 residents approved a tax of 0.30% for fire service. They approved an equivalent 0.30% for ambulance service in 1981. Since 1991, with the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL), the tax rate has steadily declined from the maximum 0.62% to today's rate of 0.3325%. The PTELL requires residents to approve any tax increase beyond annual cost of living increases, thus the need for the recent referendum.
The money will be used to reduce debt service, continue current staffing (24/7, in-station with three Firefighter/EMS providers) and begin to replace equipment, including a 29 year old tender (tanker). A committee has already been formed to look at a dual replacement of a pumper-tanker. The District would eliminate the 29 year old tanker and a 24 year old engine, replacing them with one vehicle. To minimize costs to the residents, the District applied for and was granted an interest free 20 year loan of $250K to be used toward the purchase of that vehicle. Use of that loan will save the residents at least $50K over the life of the loan. The District anticipates an arrival of early fall 2010.
