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Official proposes municipal services levy and timeline to transition county fire function into a fire district
Summary
A presenter (identified in discussion as George) proposed asking unincorporated residents to pay an equivalent municipal services levy so city and unincorporated residents contribute comparably to fire and EMS; the committee discussed maps, timing and the need for a county‑council plan before any transfer of assets or staff.
A presenter identified in the meeting as George (S8) outlined a proposal to equalize funding between city residents and those in unincorporated areas by creating a municipal services levy or municipal services district. “What I’m proposing to do... is to have the unincorporated areas pay roughly equivalent to what people pay in the cities for fire and EMS service,” George said during the presentation, and he flagged a hypothetical 4.56 mill levy for discussion.
George presented a county revenue overview and a taxable-value breakdown for the valley (cities versus unincorporated areas). He characterized the figures as approximate and asked the committee to consider maps and area definitions before finalizing recommendations. He also explained the practical timing implications: moving the county fire department into a fire district changes which entity receives property-tax revenue, and major property-tax receipts (the next “lump” of funds) arrive in the fall and again on Dec. 1.
The presenter said the district conversion requires the county council’s cooperation and a clear operational plan: “All of those questions are legitimate questions that we need to get ready to answer,” he told the committee when describing council hesitancy about transferring funds and assets. Members emphasized that the county has historically used parts of its budget to reimburse city departments that cover rural areas, and several asked for a clearer map of district boundaries and a more precise accounting of how much unincorporated areas would contribute under the proposed levy.
Committee members voiced two recurring concerns: fairness of service levels for unincorporated residents who would be asked to pay more, and the practical differences in service (for example, hydrant availability and drive times) between city and rural areas. Several members suggested the committee prepare jurisdiction-by‑jurisdiction comparisons and a clear budget plan to bring to the county council before seeking approval for a new levy or formal district formation.
No vote was taken. The presenter said he would circulate maps and more precise taxable-value breakdowns and that the committee’s advice could be used when he meets with the county council.
