VOTE411 Voter Guide

The following nonpartisan report was prepared by the League of Women Voters of Lane County.Measure 3-353 Five-yeaoperating levy for fire and emergency medical services. (Mohawk Valley Rural Fire District)Official Title: Five-year operating levy for fire and emergency medical services.Financial impact: The permanent tax rate for the Mohawk Valley Rural Fire Department (MVRFD) is set at $1.9126 per $1,000 of assessed value. This means a homeowner with an assessed value of $400,000 currently pays the district $765.04/year for the permanent tax. If the proposed levy were to pass it would be at a rate of $.60 per $1,000 of assessed value in addition to the permanent tax rate, and a homeowner with an assessed value of $400,000 would pay the district $240.00 a year more than the permanent tax rate.For the past 5 years, the same homeowner has paid an additional $156.00 per year for repayment of a bond issued in 2018. Tax year 2023 was the last year for the collection of that bond tax. Therefore, the proposed levy would result in the homeowner’s annual tax increasing by only $84.00 a year over the amount paid while the $156.00 bond repayment was in effect, instead of by the $240.00 calculated above.Note: Assessed value (AV) is the value used to calculate property tax. It is shown on the property tax statement. It is NOT the same as real market value (RMV), which is the market price of the home.Probable Results of a “Yes” vote: A yes vote supports the proposed levy of taxes for five years to support the costs of fire and emergency medical services, including the hire of two new employees, the establishment of a student recruitment and training program and the expansion of service hours to provide 24/7 coverage. If the measure is approved, the MVRFD will levy the taxes.Probable Results of a “No” vote: A no vote will oppose the levy of the proposed taxes. If the measure is not approved, the MVRFD will not levy the taxes. Taxes supporting the District would decrease by $.39 per $1,000 of assessed value, or about $156.00 per year for a home assessed at $400,000. Fire and emergency services will not be improved.Background: The MVRFD provides fire suppression, emergency medical response, and special rescue services to the Mohawk Valley and surrounding areas. The MVRFD covers an area of 26.5 square miles, containing over 4,500 residents and $315,403,750 in property and structures. Currently the district is staffed by 4 paid employees assisted by 24 volunteer firefighters. It has become increasingly difficult to find volunteer firefighters. Currently the district is staffed by paid employees from 7:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.Proposal: If the levy is approved, MVRFD will hire two additional employees and be able to implement a schedule that provides for at least one paid staff member to be on duty 24 hours a day seven days a week. The levy would also fund a student program which could fund three students at a time. These students would be assigned to shifts along with regular paid employees. Preference would be given to students that are residents of the fire district and those that are going to school for a career in the fire and EMS field.