Paradise Valley proposes taxing district for VFD

Paradise Valley Fire Association hopes to become Paradise Valley Fire District.

The new name would allow the fire department to levy a property tax on the owners of 1,100 properties within their jurisdiction. Right now, the fire department relies on voluntary dues, which less than 50 percent of the people pay.

As a result, the association collects about $40,000 for its annual budget, which Fred Marek, chairman for its board of directors, says is inadequate.

The tax would generate the more than $100,000 needed for meeting safety needs and government requirements, Marek said.

“If all of our potential members paid their dues, we wouldn’t have to do this,” he said. “We have a number of people who are willing to take a chance. Unfortunately, they are willing to take a chance with their neighbor’s property. If we don’t have enough money for equipment and maintenance, we can’t respond for them or their neighbors.”

The association at 10 a.m. Sept. 8 will have a public hearing before Boundary County Commissioners. Commissioners will then decide whether or not the issue should appear on the ballot for the Nov. 4 General Election.

If the majority of the voters favor forming the fire district, a property tax to pay for fire services will be levied in 2010.

South Boundary Fire District, which serves Naples, got its approval for a taxing district in August 2003. Voters supported it 127 to 44, said county clerk Glenda Poston.

“It’s been a great thing,” said Tony Rohrwasser, fire chief for South Boundary, which also had relied on dues.

“The biggest issue we had (in the past) was funding and running on a budget of $15,000 to $30,000 a year. The issue we ran into is when non-paying members had a fire, they lost their home, their property and we had to give them a bill (for the cost of fighting the fire).

Paradise Valley typically charges $3,000 to $5,000 for a property owner not covered by dues.

In addition, as a taxing district, South Boundary knows what to expect for its budget, Rohrwasser said. It’s also allowed the department to replace trucks, which on the average, dated back to the mid-1960s. Today, trucks date back to the early 1990s.

Outfitting one firefighter with the equipment to enter a burning home costs about $10,000, said Paradise Valley Fire Chief Jock Johnson.

Fuel prices also have affected the department.

“Diesel (fire) engines are not build for economy and that’s the one thing we can’t do without,” Marek said.

Right now, a Paradise Valley homeowner is asked to pay $105 a year in dues to the association. If voters create a fire district, that rate will go down.

“Most will pay less then the $105,” said Johnson.

Also, by creating a taxing district, the fire department will be eligible for government grants and discounted insurance through the government.

If voters approve the district, the department will remain all-volunteer for now.

“Someone might become an administrator down the road,” Johnson said.

“If it passes, we will be able to have safer equipment, more training and provide our citizens with better services,” Marek added. “We have some really dedicated people. They’re not amateurs. They’re as good as volunteers can be.”

If anyone has questions, call 267-7909.