In the upcoming election, Central Oregon Coast Fire and Rescue is asking voters to approve the same levy increase that was rejected last November. This time around, four jobs are on the line.
Chief Jamie Mason said the fire district that protects Waldport, Tidewater and the Five Rivers area has, for years, been using financial reserves to cover payroll and expenses. And that money is running out.
“If we do not get this increase and our levy does not change then we will have to reduce our monthly expenditures down," Mason told KLCC. "(That's) going to result in the loss of four positions at the end of the day. Three firefighter positions and one administrator position.”
Mason said the loss of fire crew would raise safety concerns and result in changes in emergency response time.
The new five-year levy proposes an increase of 60 cents to an existing fire tax of $1.27 per $1,000 in assessed property value.
Mason said in 2020, the district decided not to go for a levy increase due to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, in last November’s general election, voters rejected the same levy increase proposal by a margin of two to one.
Mason said the district has tried for federal grants without success. He added that they have taken out bridge loans to get by.
COCF&R participates in a county mutual aid agreement allowing it to pull resources from any fire and rescue agency in Lincoln County, if a conflagration requires added firefighting resources. In addition, the district has an agreement with neighboring Yachats Fire for certain call types including emergency CPR, or a car or house fire.
Mason said an intergovernmental agreement with Seal Rock Fire District was closed when “new leadership chose not to participate.” Leaders of the two districts have clashed in recent months.
An argument in opposition of Measure 21-233 in the Lincoln County voters’ pamphlet cites concerns over Chief Mason’s mishandling of the Central Coast Fire budget. The argument for a No vote on the levy was submitted by Put Out the Fire PAC with information furnished by Todd Holt. It states that “CCF has no volunteers and payroll is nearly one million dollars.” This compared to Seal Rock Fire which “operates on budget with one paid firefighter and 40 volunteers.”
Ballots have been mailed to registered voters for this month's special election in Oregon. Ballots must be returned or postmarked by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day, May 20.
