Owens Crossroads holds public hearing on proposed 3-mill property tax for fire services

A public hearing in Owens Crossroads on a proposed 3-mill ad valorem property tax drew a fire department presentation and several resident questions about costs, duration and oversight. The council did not vote on the proposal at the meeting.

The fire department representative told the mayor, council members and the public that the dedicated levy would provide "stable funding for department operations, firefighter safety, and critical equipment replacement," arguing the tax would allow the department to move from reactive purchases to planned capital replacements. He said one frontline pumper is 26 years old and that a full set of personal protective equipment costs about $6,800 per firefighter, estimating roughly $68,000 would be required to outfit 10 newly recruited members. "The question is whether we replace critical equipment proactively or wait until equipment failure forces our hand," the presenter said, framing the tax as a preparedness measure.

A council member who spoke during the meeting urged residents to back the measure as the city grows, saying a September vote "would bring in about $100,000 per year should the council approve," a figure raised as an estimate of local revenue from the proposed levy.

Several residents who spoke during the public-comment period expressed conditional support but pressed for more fiscal detail. Michael Wilson, who identified himself as a former chief of protective services at NASA, said he submitted 39 technical questions aimed at clarifying the budget assumptions and asked that the answers be provided to the public; staff told him those questions "will be answered via email this week." Scott Ford, a former volunteer firefighter, said he supported better equipment but pressed the presenters on the math, asking where the remaining funds would come from if the 3 mills yield only about $100,000: "I need to know where that other $600,000, $750,000 is coming from," he said, and asked whether the city had pursued grants or fundraising and what the proposal would do to the community's ISO rating.

Another commenter asked whether the ad valorem tax would apply only to property or also to vehicles; staff replied it would apply strictly to property. A resident asked about the measure's duration—participants noted language indicating the tax is limited between 2027 and 2033—and whether that time limit would allow for long-term equipment sustainment or leave gaps after the sunset.

Speakers described the tax's intended uses as apparatus purchases, radios, PPE, hoses, thermal imaging cameras and other tools needed for routine operations and major incidents. Supporters argued that investment now could avoid higher costs and service gaps later; questioners sought specifics on the total budget, alternative funding sources and contingency plans if collections differ from projections.

The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn; the council indicated approval and did not make a final decision on the proposed 3-mill levy at that session. Staff committed to providing written answers to technical questions raised during public comment.

Next steps: the council may schedule further discussion or a formal vote in a future meeting; no adoption or rejection was recorded at this hearing.