The 2010 year began with some major challenges to our ability to continue to provide the existing level of emergency services. Over the past several years we had observed several sources of income either being stagnant or even decreasing. Our cost of operations was increasing during that same period. Our small reserve fund was augmenting the general fund income to provide a minimum staffing level. The reserve funds would be exhausted by the end of the 2009/2010 fiscal year.
The Board had planned, starting in 2007, to ask our citizens to replace an existing Special Tax – Rescue passed in 1991 and set at a fixed amount. The Special Tax – Rescue was intended to support the cost related to the emergency medical services including paramedics and the ambulance service. Over the past 19 years the tax has remained the same ($47 per house per year) while the cost to provide paramedics and an ambulance service increased dramatically.
Due to the downturn in the economy starting in 2007, the Board decided to wait until the economy improved before asking for an adjustment in the Special Tax - Rescue. However, in 2008 and 2009, the economy did not improve and, in fact in some areas, declined.
Unlike the Federal or State government, the District can not operate in the red or with borrowed funds. We can not just print money if we run short. The District had made reductions in expenses wherever possible without affecting the emergency response. The next cuts had to include line personnel and that would result in a reduction in the level of service. The District would have to temporarily close (brown out) a fire station a minimum of 2-3 days per week.
The Board felt this decision was too important for them to make without input from the citizens. At the January 2010 meeting the Board made the decision to ask the citizens in a Special Mail Ballot election if they would support an adjustment in the existing Special Tax – Rescue in order to maintain the level of service or retain the existing tax and reduce emergency services.
The Special Mail Ballot election took place on May 21, 2010. The citizens overwhelmingly (74.5% of voters voting) supported replacing the existing Special Tax – Rescue in order to maintain the current minimal staffing levels.
