News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Voters at Black Butte Ranch will decide in the September 15 election whether to boost funding for the BBR fire district.
The fire district is seeking to replace the current 90 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation, which expires next year, with a new levy of $1.56 per $1,000.
According to Fire Chief Dan Tucker, the larger levy is necessary to keep pace with staff, equipment and maintenance costs with an essentially static tax base.
"We're pretty much built out; we're not seeing the growth that (has occurred) in other areas," Tucker said. "So it's not keeping up with the costs."
Tucker said the increased levy is required if the district is to be able to spend up to the $1.5-million level of its approved budget.
If the levy is unsuccessful, staffing cuts would be required, which would likely impact the district's current 24/7 staffing coverage.
Tucker said the district has been as conservative as possible, holding back on spending for maintenance and equipment.
"The guys are cutting back really hard, trying to make things last," he said. "We've cut everything we can cut in terms of expenses."
The district employs six full-time staff, supplemented by six student firefighters.
Tucker has timed the levy request early to give the district some flexibility if the request fails at the polls.
"If it doesn't pass... we'll probably have to come back in March or May," he said.
If the district cannot pass a levy at all, deep cuts are inevitable, since the levy represents half of the district's operating budget.
The district's permanent tax base is $1.46 per $1,000.
Tucker said he is relatively optimistic about the outcome of the vote, based on feedback from the public.
"Actually, it's been pretty positive," he said. "Once they hear the issues and concerns behind it, they understand."
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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