Tillamook Fire seeks levy

The Tillamook Fire District is asking voters to approve a five-year levy to support district operations on the May primary ballot.

If approved, the levy would add 84 cents per thousand dollars of assessed value to tax bills in the district to support equipment maintenance and the hiring of new staff.

Currently, the district relies mainly on a property tax rate of 69 cents per thousand dollars of assessed property value to support its operations. That figure is significantly lower than neighboring agencies, with Garibaldi Rural Fire District receiving $1.48 per thousand of assessed value, Nestucca Rural Fire District receiving $1.58 and Nehalem Bay Fire and Rescue getting $1.15.

The district was locked into that low taxation rate when voters approved Measure 50 in 1997, freezing the rate at the then-current level. Along with 1996’s Measure 7, which limited annual increases in assessed value to 3%, this has significantly hampered the district and other local governments from staying abreast of rising costs.

Statistics compiled by the district show a cumulative price increase of 94.6% since 1997, driven by inflation as well as ever-increasing call volumes, with a 40% increase in just the last four years.

The requested levy would alleviate the strain that is being caused by those factors by more than doubling the district’s revenues.

Big ticket items for the levy funds would be the replacement of three aging vehicles in the district’s fleet, a 14-year-old rescue vehicle, 22-year-old first out pumper and 37-year-old beach response vehicle stationed at Cape Meares. Funding for the levy would allow for the replacement of those vehicles with more versatile equipment that would enhance the district’s response capabilities.

The funding would also be used for new satellite communications equipment, the maintenance of self-contained breathing apparatus air packs and the replacement of personal protective equipment for staff.

The levy would also allow the possibility for hiring more part- or full-time firefighter EMTs, especially during the summer months when call volumes are highest.