HomeMy WebLinkAbout 18-39 Fire Dist Support -GallagherRESOLUTION N0.18-39
A RESOLUTION ADVOCATING VOTER APPROVAL OF THE FIRE DISTRICT'S REQUEST
FOR A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE AND FOR AUTHORITY TO STABILIZE ITS TAX
REVENUE DURING THE NOVEMBER 6, 2018 ELECTION
WHEREAS, since it was organized in 1976, the sole purpose of Frederick -Firestone Fire
Protection District ("Fire District') has been to protect the communities it serves by providing
essential, live -saving fire suppression, rescue, extrication, hazardous materials, ambulance,
emergency medical services, public education, and community risk reduction (collectively,
"Emergency Services");
WHEREAS, on August 20, 2018, the Fire District's Board of Directors adopted a Resolution
directing the attached Tax Increase Ballot Issue and the attached Gallagher Revenue Stabilization
Ballot Issue be submitted to the Fire District's voters during the coordinated election Weld County
will conduct on November 6, 2018 ("Election");
WHEREAS, the Colorado Fair Campaign Practices Act, C.R.S. § 1-45-117(1)(b), expressly
authorizes the Fires District's Board of Directors to adopt a Resolution advocating voter approval
of the Fire District's request for a tax increase and for authority to stabilize its tax revenue during
the Election; and,
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees of the Town of Firestone, has determined it is important to the
health, safety, and welfare of its citizens that the Board adopt this Resolution urging all eligible
voters to approve the Fire District's Tax Increase Ballot Issue and Gallagher Revenue Stabilization
Ballot Issue at the Election.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE TOWN OF
FIRESTONE, WELD COUNTY, COLORADOa
1. THE FIRE DISTRICT HAS NOT ASKED ITS CITIZENS FOR A GENERAL OPERATING TAX
INCREASE IN 12 YEARS. The Fire District provides 24-hour Emergency Services coverage to
approximately 36 square miles that include the Towns of Frederick and Firestone, and a portion
of unincorporated Weld County. In 2000, the Fire District had 4,500 residents. Today, the Fire
District serves over 30,000 residents. Growth within the Fire District is projected to continue at
the rapid rate of 5-7% per year for both Towns. The Fire District's Emergency Services
responsibilities grow as the Towns grow.
2. IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS, THE FIRE DISTRICT'S EMERGENCY CALL VOLUME HAS
INCREASED BY50%. In 2017, the Fire District responded to approximately 2,500 emergency calls.
Nearly 73% of its requests for service last year were related to emergency medical situations and
10% involved motor vehicle accidents. The Fire District also responds to residential, commercial,
wildland and vehicle fires, hazardous materials emergencies, specialized rescues and emergency
management for large scale incidents, such as the 2013 Flood.
3. In addition to the tremendous increase in service demands, a Colorado
Constitutional provision called the Gallagher Amendment is severely impacting the property tax
the voters authorized the Fire District to assess. The Gallagher Amendment requires the
percentage of property taxes paid by residential property owners in the State to be 45% of the
total taxes paid. In every odd year, the Colorado Legislature is required to set the residential
assessment rate ("RAR) at a level that will maintain the 45% tax share required by the Colorado
Constitution. Due to the steady increase in residential property values across the State, since
1982 the RAR has been reduced from 21% to 7.96%. Then, in 2017, the Colorado Legislature
further reduced the RAR to 7.2%. This more than 9% decrease in the RAR resulted in the Fire
District losing $160,000 in revenue in 2018. Preliminary projections indicate the Colorado
Legislature will further reduce the RAR to 6.11 % in 2019, which will result in another 15%
decrease and another approximately $380,000 loss in property tax revenue. WITHOUTPROPERTY
TAX REVENUE STABILIZATION THE FIRE DISTRICT WILL SEE A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN REVENUE
THAT ITS VOTERS NEVER INTENDED,
4. The double -impact of upward spiraling costs and emergency service demands
combined with the adverse impact of the Gallagher Amendment, has put the Fire District in a
position in which CONTINUING WITHOUT A TAX INCREASE COULD SIGNIFICANTLY COMPROMISE THE
LEVEL OF LIFE-SAVING EMERGENCY SERVICES THE FIRE DISTRICT IS ABLE TO PROVIDE TO THE
COMMUNITY,
5. Stabilizing the Fire District's tax revenues, and increasing its general operating tax
by 5.23 mills, will provide stable and predictable revenue for the Fire District to meet the
community's increasing demands for Emergency Services. It will enable the Fire District to:
Hire nine firefighters/paramedics.
Begin replacing its aging apparatus fleet, including a 1988 Water Tender and a 1992
Fire Truck.
• Build an additional three fire stations in the next 10 to 15 years and hire the emergency
service personnel and purchase the fire trucks and ambulances for each new station.
6. For the last 42 years the Fire District's sole focus has been the health, safety, and
welfare of its citizens and its firefighters, and these ballot initiatives are critical to the Fire District's
continued ability to provide high quality, cost-effective Emergency Services to our communities
and to ensure the safety of our firefighters.
FOR ALL OF THE FOREGOING REASONS, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE TOWN OF FIRESTONE,
URGES VOTERS TO APPROVE THE FIRE DISTRICT'S TAX INCREASE FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES
BALLOT ISSUE AND GALLAGHER REVENUE STABILIZATION BALLOT ISSUE DURING THE NOVEMBER 6,
2018 ELECTION.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this loth day of October, 2018. ,
Bjbl Sinde , Mayor
AMST {I
Leah Vanarsdall, Town Clerk
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