For the first time in 20 years, the Lowell Rural Fire Protection District is asking taxpayers to approve an operational levy to cover increased costs of firefighting.
The fire district serves the City of Lowell and the community of Fall Creek, with around 2,650 residents in its boundaries. Fire Chief Lon Dragt said if Measure 20-370 on the May ballot is approved, it will help pay for station and equipment maintenance, as costs for just about everything are up.
“With fire service, we already have to pay more than the average person. In order to get an axe, I can’t just go down to Jerry’s and buy one. We have to buy an NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) rated one, so they tend to cost more,” Dragt said.
The fire district has four full-time staff and 29 volunteers. Dragt said between fire and emergency medical services, the district responds to about 460 calls each year.
Fire services are currently paid for with a permanent fire tax of $2.69 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The new levy would bump that to $4.19 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.
