Information about the proposed mill levy for Foothills Fire
Overview
On the ballot this November for the Foothills Fire Protection District (FFPD) are two requested tax increases. Ballot Issue 6B wants to increase our taxes by almost $25m over the next 25 years for a new fire station. Ballot Issue 6C wants a permanent 10% budget increase for unspecified additional fire protection services. VOTE NO ON 6B AND 6C.
Based on expert analysis by contractors, the average cost of a new fire station construction in Colorado is $2-3m. In nearby fire districts, Evergreen is building a very large structure for ~$8m and Elk Creek / Inter-Canyon are upgrading two stations for a total of $5m.
The fire department currently has a ~$1,000,000 annual budget to respond to ~600 emergency calls each year. The fire department’s current budget is sufficient to respond and stay prepared for emergencies. In the event of a catastrophic wildfire, the county, then state or federal government, comes in to manage the fire. No single local fire department has the resources to handle these fires and mutual aid is always needed.
Unfortunately, there has been a complete lack of transparency with this proposal. Our community has requested information from the FFPD Board of Directors (BOD) to explain this irresponsible increase, but nothing has been provided. Few specifics are available regarding the allocation of the capital expenditures for the $24,894,429 incurred debt, and the wording of the bond indicates that the money can be spent on virtually anything. There has been no prior community notice, input, or representation.
Our biggest fire risk is a wildfire, which cannot be prevented by a new fire station. We encourage you to VOTE NO ON 6B AND 6C.
Financial Impact
This severely limits our ability to fund future department needs, schools, and much needed water supply infrastructure for the next 25 years. The taxpayers are overwhelmed.
- Incurring total debt of $24,894,429 – while the average cost to build a new station is $3,000,000 – is irresponsible.
- Passage of 6B and 6C will double your taxes. Look at your real property tax statement, scroll down to Foothills Fire Protection District and simply multiply by 2.
- The actual property tax revenues the district collected the last full year of 2021 was $925,626. The 6B request ($111,000) and 6C request ($833.500) equal $944,500 which is slightly more than double the taxes of 2021.
- The recent real estate market boom guarantees more income with the current mill levy due to increased values. Taxpayers voted in 2019 to de-Gallagher so FFPD would never see a drop in funding.
- The 1 mill levy increase would make FFPD/Highland Rescue Team (HRT) the highest of all bordering districts going from 12.817 to 13.817 mills. That is higher than any other of our neighboring districts, including West Metro (12.53) and Evergreen (11.187).
- Current cost per call in 2021 at 640 calls was $1714.00 each. That will balloon to $3190.00 each for the one or two calls a day average received.
- The wording on 6B in part "AQUIRE REAL PROPERTY WITHIN THE DISTRICT AND CONSTRUCT AND EQUIP A NEW FIRE STATION ON SUCH PROPERTY" is worded such that the tax money could be used for anything, not just the construction of a new fire station. This is intentional by the chief and board of directors.
Infrastructure
A new mega station project at Highway 40 and Paradise provides duplicate administrative offices and little-to-no increase in service.
- Rainbow Station was designed to be the primary station due to the location on commercial property with quick access to I-70 and coverage of our western residents.
- It has equipment bays, admin office space, storage, kitchen, meeting room and bedroom, and a landing site for Flight for Life.
- In 2011, the district constructed new equipment bays and made provisions for the attachment of new admin office and space for future expansion as needed.
- It is not necessary to move a station from the center of one of our most populated communities to be within 1/3 mile of another station. This would also situate 3 of our 4 stations next to the highway.
- Stations don't stop a fire, firefighters do. We need more in district volunteer firefighters who can respond from their residences.
- The FFPD budget has historically funded station upkeep and expansion without bonds.
Response Times
This new station will not improve service times for residents.
- Idledale and Grapevine residents would receive little-to-no increase in service yet experience a 100% increase in their taxes.
- Response times from US40 and Paradise Rd to Lookout Mountain, Cody Park, and Mt. Vernon neighborhoods would be longer during snowy conditions.
- The current response model is working as-is.
- The officer-on-duty already goes directly to scene in the command vehicle they keep at their residence, enabling a quick response.
- Numerous neighboring fire districts with mutual aid agreements can respond in minutes when called for major incidents.
- County and state agencies monitor for wildfires and take over command if there is a major threat, bringing heavy machinery, air support, and more firefighters.
Community Requirements vs Fire Department’s Desires
Future growth in the district will continue to be minimal, due to water constraints and lack of available land. Given that, departmental costs should go down, not up.
- FFPD closed the Mt. Vernon station, returned the leased wildland truck to the state, and recently updated the vehicle fleet.
- Instead of building a new station they could upgrade Lookout Station without moving a station away from homeowners and replace the admin building at Rainbow for much less.
Thanks for checking the facts. We truly care about our fire department but in the medium to long term this will be extremely detrimental to the department and the taxpayers. VOTE NO ON 6B AND 6C.
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