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Commission calls election to move Heathborough Fire District to tax rolls
Summary
Fergus County commissioners approved Resolution 5 20 26 to put a question on an election asking district residents whether to convert the Heathborough Fire District from a subscription model to tax-based funding; staff said the item must be passed by Feb. 9 for local election timelines and that the district aims to raise about $32,000 annually.
Fergus County commissioners voted to place a ballot question before members of the Heathborough Fire District asking whether the district should shift from a subscription model to being funded through property taxation.
The chair said the statute requires the county to vote to put the question on an election so district residents can decide. "Statutorily, what we need to do is we need to vote to put it on for... the members of the district, in an official election to say, yes," the chair said. A staff member told the commission the action must be completed by Feb. 9 for the district to be placed on the local election timeline; if the district misses the special district timeline it will need to run its own special district election.
A commissioner said the district's goal is "to raise the 32,000 annually," and staff explained the Department of Revenue will use the approved mapping to designate the district for tax purposes. The motion to approve Resolution 5 20 26 was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.
Why it matters: Converting a rural fire district from subscription funding to a tax-funded model changes how the district collects revenue and how costs are distributed among property owners in the district; it can affect homeowners' tax bills and the district's operating revenue.
What’s next: The county will transmit the approved resolution to the appropriate election and mapping authorities; the question will be decided by voters in the Heathborough Fire District.
