Transcript Ballot Proposal: Levy Lid Lift

November 8, 2011
Proposition 1
Levy Lid Lift
 70 square miles
 87,300 population
 5 stations
Olympia
Tumwater
Yelm
Incident Responses
10796
11000
10043
# of Incidents
10000
10474
9000
8116
8000
7000
7331
6825
6000
5000
2000
2002
2004
2006
Year
2008
2010
To deliver the most effective services
with the resources available to us
 Fire District revenues have not kept pace with
increases in service demands
 Since 2007 our levy rate has grown by only 1.6%
 Current financial resources are at critical levels
 Reduced Staff: 2004-Present

Reduced support staff from 16 to 4

Cut 1 of 3 senior management positions

Cut 3 firefighter positions

Vacated 3 lieutenant positions

Decreased minimum daily staffing to reduce overtime
 Cost Reductions

No cost of living increases for 4 years

Increased deductibles to reduce healthcare premiums
 Applied and received grants for:
 Equipment

Increasing fuel efficiency in our apparatus

Breathing apparatus (SCBA) and mobile data terminals
 Staffing

Recruitment and retention of volunteer responders

Six firefighters were hired on a five year grant that
expired in 2011
 The Board of Fire Commissioners has approved
placement of a six year levy lid lift on the
November ballot
 The ballot measure is to restore the levy to the
2004 level of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed
property value
Levy Rate
Cost to homeowner
($220,000 average value)
Without Lid Lift
With Lid Lift
Current
2012 Projected *
2012
$1.18
$1.30
$1.50
$21.63/month
$23.83/month
$27.50/month
* Decreasing property values have the mathematical effect of increasing the levy rate.
The 2012 rate is projected by the Thurston County Assessor to be approximately $1.30
+$3.67/month
Approx. above 2012 rate
 Restore staffing
 Maintain current insurance rating
 Apparatus repair and maintenance
 Operational fund balance
Staffing Plan
 Restore engine company staffing at Station 35
(near Jubilee)
 Stabilize staffing of two apparatus at Station 31
(Headquarters)
 Enhance service delivery to the Station 32 area
(Lake St Claire/Yelm Highway)
 Restoring station resident volunteer firefighter
program
Apparatus Plan
 Reestablish adequate funding for our equipment
repair and replacement program
 Establish a cooperative and cost-effective
regional maintenance program
Operational Fund Plan
 The State Auditor recommended the District
maintain a fund balance equal to one month’s
operating expenses as a sound financial practice
 The Board of Fire Commissioners has developed
a plan to reach this goal
 Daily staffing will continue to be reduced
 Station(s) may be unstaffed
Headquarters
Station 31
Yelm Hwy/St Claire
Station 32
Mullen Road
Station 33
Steilacoom Road
Station 34
Willamette/Jubilee
Station 35
 Apparatus needing repairs will remain out of
service
 Reduced public education and outreach
Critical Impacts
 Fewer crews available to cover the growing
requests for emergency services leads to
longer response times
 Positive outcomes for medical emergencies or
structure fires diminish as response times
lengthen.
 We will need to request the levy lid lift again
 We have run out of adequate funding to continue
to provide service at current levels.
 Proposition 1 will restore the levy to the voter
approved 2004 level
 Six years of predictable funding will:
 Stabilize station staffing & enhance response
capabilities
 Fund necessary repairs for response vehicles
 Allow compliance with State Auditor fund balance
recommendations
For further questions, please contact us:

E-mail
[email protected]

Call
360-491-2410

Website www.laceyfire.com