A Fire Levy Lid is the maximum allowed taxation of the district determined by the voters. Each year, by law, a fire district can only increase a budget by 1% of the previous year, without voter approval.

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The passage of Initiative 747 in 2001 established a “101% levy limit” limiting the amount that any taxing jurisdiction can increase its regular property tax levy (the total amount of revenue collected) from current assessed valuation (excluding new construction) without voter approval.

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For a Fire District to increase by more than 1%, it must ask for voter approval. This process is a Levy Lid Lift.

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Initiative 747 set the "baseline" tax level to be used to calculate subsequent years at 101%. Because of this calculation the "rate" per $1,000 decreases. This happens because as assessments go up and growth continues the cost is shared and/or dispersed.

A levy is presented as a rate, in this levy lid lift proposal $0.95 per $1,000 is the rate. This will establish a total allowed tax dollar amount. Each year after, the district can only increase the total allowed by 1%. This will be a permanent levy lift. Here is a graph from MRSC to reference.

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The current Levy Rate has dropped since 2001 to $0.398 per $1,000 of assessed value.

Inflation rates of material, supplies, equipment, the cost of maintenance and operations with increased call counts have surpassed the district's ability to maintain a safe and effective service without financial implications. FCFD1 has maintained operations with a conservative approach for many decades without asking voters for an increase. In consecutive years the district has used reserves to cover the cost of operating. Reserves are used for apparatus replacement, unexpected costs, and any necessary capital projects. The reserve fund has reached a critical depletion level. At current projection, reserve funds will deplete in 2-3 years with no non-essential spending. Without these reserves in place, we will not be able to plan for replacements or cover unexpected costs. If the reserves do deplete, we will not be able to cover the cost of operating expenses.

The Levy increase would cover the operating deficit the reserve fund currently covers. It would also allow the district to:

• Maintain safe conditions for our firefighters.

• Improve maintenance of our fleet vehicles.

• Improve community outreach.

• Improve training opportunities for our firefighters.

• Rebuild reserves to replace aging apparatus, cover unexpected costs, and necessary capital projects.

• CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY AND MAINTAIN THE LEVEL OF SAFETY, PROTECTION, AND PRIDE THAT WE EXPECT.

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