SFPD #4
Shall the Sierra Fire Protection District be authorized to issue up to $5,200,000 of general obligation bonds for the purpose of defraying the cost of acquiring, constructing, improving and equipping fire stations and acquiring fire engines and fire fighting equipment and to levy an additional property tax rate for the purpose of staffing, operating, maintaining and equipping the fire stations and acquiring and improving fire engines and fire fighting equipment of up to 4.5 cents per $100 of assessed valuation for a period of 30 years? The bonds are expected to require a property tax levy for 30 years. The bonds are estimated to result in an increase in the property taxes that the owner of a new $100,000 home will pay, which will average $4.74 per year. In addition, the cost of the property tax levy for the owner of a new $100,000 home is estimated to be $15.75 per year. If this question is approved by the voters, any property tax levied as authorized by this question will be outside of the caps on a taxpayer's liability for property (ad valorem) taxes established by the legislature in the 2005 session.
Explanation:
A "yes" vote would permit the Sierra Fire Protection District to issue up to $5,200,000 of general obligation bonds to defray the cost of acquiring, constructing, improving and equipping fire stations and acquiring fire engines and fire fighting equipment, and to levy a property tax of up to 4.5 cents per $100 of assessed valuation for a period of 30 years to staff, operate, maintain and equip the fire stations and to acquire and improve fire engines and fire fighting equipment. The property tax rate to be levied to repay the bonds is expected to range from 0.73 cents to 2.27 cents per $100 of assessed valuation during the 30 year term of the bonds. The additional property tax levy would increase the cost for the owner of a new $100,000 home with a taxable value of $100,000 by approximately $15.75 per year. Tax rates are levied against assessed value which is 35% of the taxable value. Taxable value may not be the same as market value.
A "no" vote would prevent the District from issuing general obligation bonds in the principal amount of $5,200,000 and levying the additional property tax of 4.5 cents per $100 of assessed valuation at this time.
Argument "In Favor" of SFPD # 4
Voter approval of the Sierra Fire Protection District public safety facilities Bond and tax override will better protect your life and property by reducing fire, paramedic and law enforcement response times. For a cost of two dollars per month per $100,000 of taxable value, residents will receive a much needed fire station in the Arrowcreek/Thomas Creek area; refurbishment and expansion of the Galena Fire Station to include a co-located Washoe County Sheriff Office substation; additional firefighters and paramedics and replacement of obsolete volunteer fire engines. Approval of this investment in community safety can be measured in quicker response times, lower fire insurance premiums and additional firefighter safety.
The funding is to "catch-up" with area growth. The last staffed fire station built south of McCarran Loop was in 1982 when Ronald Reagan was president and ET was in the movie theaters. Since then, thousands of new homes have been built, increasing our population and call volume. Once the District is "caught-up", future fire stations will be funded primarily by developers.
In a unique law enforcement/fire partnership, the Washoe County Sheriff's Office is contributing funding to the proposed refurbishment of the Galena Fire Station for use as a southern area substation. The new facility will reduce law enforcement response times.
The funding will be used to build, equip and staff a new fire station in the Arrowcreek/Thomas Creek area. The new station will reduce area response times by half and provide a back-up to other District engines when needed. The need for a second Mount Rose area station becomes even more urgent because the Reno Fire Station near Wal-Mart on Damonte Parkway is going to be closed and relocated further away from our District. The station move would eliminate the current Sheriff substation.
The additional funding will provide an opportunity to upgrade the volunteer fire engines in Verdi, Washoe and Galena.
Please help Sierra Fire Protection District firefighters and paramedics help you by voting YES on November 4th. Saving time is saving lives.
Rebuttal to Argument "In Favor" of SFPD #4
No rebuttal provided in compliance with NRS 295.121(6)
Argument "In Opposition" to SFPD #4
The Question should not be passed for the following reasons:
The current level of fire protection service is adequate and capital improvements are not necessary at this time. The existing fire stations are able to provide service to the entire District by continuing to provide service to expanded areas.
The District should make do with the current condition of the facilities and equipment it has. The District should wait to repair and renovate facilities and equipment until the needs are more critical. The cost of constructing additional facilities and acquiring equipment will exceed the benefits of those projects.
The new taxes would not be subject to the property tax caps established by the 2005 Nevada Legislature and property taxes for residents could exceed the 3% cap and all other taxed property could exceed the 8% cap.
Taxes are already too high. On July 1, 2008 the District reorganized itself under Chapter 474 of the Nevada Revised Statutes and increased its tax rate by 10 cents for a total of 52 cents. Because the District was deemed to be a new entity the 10 cent tax rate increase was not subject to the property tax caps established by the 2005 Nevada Legislature.
Passage of the Question will allow the District to increase property taxes for a period of up to 30 years.
If assessed value in the District declines, an additional increase in the property tax rate to pay the debt may be needed to repay the bonds which would also not be subject to the property tax caps established by the 2005 Nevada Legislature.
Rebuttal to Argument "In Opposition" to SFPD #4
The argument against SFPD # 4 fails to address the fact that a majority of Sierra Fire's constituents in the heart of the Mount Rose corridor experience response times as long as 18 minutes, while paying the lions share of the Districts fire taxes. This Bond will provide equality throughout the District, while providing a much needed "extra resource" that will provide numerous benefits to the entire District.
SFPD's constituents have been paying far less fire taxes than surrounding fire jurisdictions for sometime. This has resulted in the need for higher taxes and this Bond. By building the Arrowcreek Fire Station, the Districts fire rating will be reduced. This should result in a substantial savings to how much constituents pay for fire insurance. If this measure fails, no savings will occur, and response times will remain too long. This will result in the needless loss of life and property.
This measure is not a "nicety" for the District as portrayed in the rebuttal, it is a necessity for a large portion of our District that has been supporting the outlying areas for years.
Please support SFPD # 4, it is vital to the District, and everyone who lives there.
