Sean C. Morgan
Fire Chief Dave Barringer is preparing to present a proposal for a new bond levy that would succeed the current Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District bond measure when it is paid off in January 2017.
The existing 10-year bond, which levies 37 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value, paid for new apparatus, such as the ladder truck and a water tender. Barringer will formally propose a new levy, continuing at the same rate for up to six years, to the district board next year.
The district’s current budget won’t support the equipment needs of the department, Barringer said. Since the district formed some 15 years ago, medical call volumes have increased, while ambulance revenue has not kept pace, based on insurance caps on payments.
That’s left the district short when it needs to replace old gear and apparatus, Barringer said. Among the needs are a new rig for the battalion chiefs. The current rig is a used stop-gap measure. The vehicle needs to be versatile, allowing the battalion chiefs to work in every role – medical, fire and incident commander.
Battalion chiefs need a rig equipped with a small tank and with medical supplies, for example, so they have the ability to shift roles as an incident develops, Barringer said. He recalled seeing a battalion chief extinguish an exterior fire in the Crawfordsville area with the old vehicle. Had he had to wait for firefighters, the home would have burned.
The district also needs a new pumper tender and a new rescue unit, Barringer said. Other needs include asphalt, repairs to buildings, a new ambulance with another staggered partway through the life of the bond, and more.
The district needs new air packs, he said. The newest are eight years old. The district is looking for a grant to replace them, but it’s the type of equipment that could be part of a bond request.
“I don’t even like asking the taxpayers to do more,” Barringer said. The district keeps and uses what it can. Extrication tools are older than officials might like, but they keep them and continue to use them.
He has a list of projects developed from meetings with district officers and volunteers. As he formalizes a bond proposal, looking for board approval to place it on the May ballot, he will bring a list to the board for review.
Bond levies exist outside of property tax limitations. Districts that pass bond levies sell bonds and pay them off over time using property taxes approved by voters. They may be used to replace equipment, build new structures and repair structures. They may not be used to cover personnel costs.
The board discussed the idea of a bond during its regular meeting on Dec. 15. Present at the meeting were Don Hopkins, Elmer Riemer, Larry Johnson, Tim Geil and President Dawn Mitchell.
Geil initially expressed concerns over a bond request, whether the community could afford that.
“I don’t see it as a thing to pursue,” he said. “It’s got to come from somewhere inside.”
But Riemer noted that district funding is limited by its permanent rate, $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value.
That rate is set in the state’s constitution and can be changed only by a statewide amendment. Revenue based on the rate varies based on property values. With higher property values this year, the district realized some $55,000 more in property taxes than it planned. It will collect roughly $1.4 million in property tax revenue this year. Revenue has also fallen with property values.
“I don’t feel like we’re doing something extravagant,” Barringer said. “We can’t afford those bigger ticket items with the budget I have now. They can’t come from my budget. I don’t have the room.”
Ultimately, it’s for the board to evaluate and decide, Barringer said.
Riemer said he preferred seeking a bond levy immediately after the existing bond expires, extending the obligation rather than letting it go away for a year and then asking voters to increase their property taxes again.
“This is the right time to ask for it,” he said.
“I don’t disagree with you on it,” Geil said. “It’s got to be down in black and white, and at some point we have to live within our means.”
“It’s the only option we have,” Riemer said. The tax rate was set 15 years ago, and the rate cannot change.
Barringer will return with specific information for a proposal next month.
When it has that information, then the board can really begin to take a look at it and talk about a bond proposal, Johnson said.
Other board members, including Geil, agreed.
The board will schedule a special meeting to begin discussing the proposal next month. Its regular meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Jan. 14 at the Fire Hall, 1099 Long St.