Proposed Levy
Measure #20-372
The South Lane County Fire & Rescue Board has referred a measure which would authorize a five-year local option levy for the November 4, 2025 ballot.
BACKGROUND
In November 2025, voters will have the opportunity to consider a proposed measure which would fund staffing and emergency services resources in the South Lane Fire and Rescue District. The elected District Board voted to place this measure on the ballot for voters to decide whether or not to replace the District’s current levy of $0.47 per $1,000 of assessed property value, which is set to expire in fiscal year 2027–2028, with a new rate of $0.94 per $1,000 of assessed property value. This measure would authorize collection of property taxes for a five-year period beginning in 2026.
MEASURE #20-372
If passed, what would the levy fund?
If passed, the levy would fund six new full-time positions and one additional apprentice. This would bring daily staffing from 7 personnel to 10 personnel, allowing the District to staff a third full-time paramedic ambulance.
If passed, how much would the measure cost?
If passed, the measure would cost property owners $0.94 per $1,000 of assessed property value (not real market value) beginning in 2026. The owner of a median-priced home in the district with an assessed value of $198,639 would pay $15.56 per month or $186.72 per year. The tax would raise approximately $12,978,604 over a five-year period starting in 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
The South Lane County Fire & Rescue Board has referred a measure which would authorize a five-year local option levy for the November 4, 2025 ballot. If passed, the levy would cost property owners $0.94 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
If passed, the levy would fund six new full-time positions and one additional apprentice. This would bring daily staffing from 7 personnel to 10 personnel, allowing the District to staff a third full-time paramedic ambulance.
If passed, the measure would authorize a property tax increase. Property owners would pay $0.94 per $1,000 of assessed property value. A homeowner with a median home assessed at $198,639 would pay about $15.56 per month or $186.68 per year. The tax would continue for five years beginning in 2026 and would raise a total of $12,978,604.
If the measure does not pass, the additional staff and ambulance would not be added, and property taxes would not be increased.
If the measure passes, the existing property tax levy of $0.47 per $1,000 of assessed property value would end early and be replaced by the new property tax levy of $0.94 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
Voters first passed a five-year local option levy of $0.47 per $1,000 of assessed property value in 2012. The levy was renewed in 2017 and again in November 2022, which is currently set to expire in 2027.
The District’s call volume has increased by 62% since 2014. During peak times, a single call often coincides with multiple additional emergencies, which can leave no personnel immediately available to respond. Mutual aid from neighboring districts has become harder to secure. Additional staffing through the proposed levy would increase capacity, which is intended to help reduce wait times for emergency response.
According to NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) Standard 1710, staffing levels should be 4 personnel per engine company and 2 per ambulance. This would require 15 personnel per day for the District. The proposed property tax increase would bring daily staffing to 10 personnel, which is below the NFPA standard but would increase staffing above current levels.
The Cottage Grove station is typically staffed with five personnel, while the Creswell station is staffed with two personnel. During minimum staffing periods, Cottage Grove has three personnel and Creswell has two personnel. The District operates two of its four fire stations (Cottage Grove and Creswell) 24 hours a day.
The majority of the District’s calls are medical emergencies, which account for approximately 84% of all calls. About 12% are fire-related, and 4% fall into other categories of emergency response. Roughly three-quarters of calls come from the Cottage Grove station area, with the remaining quarter originating from Creswell. The District now averages 15 calls per day and is projected to reach 16 calls daily by the end of 2025.
South Lane County Fire & Rescue serves about 33,000 residents. The District’s ambulance service area is larger than its fire coverage area, which increases demand for medical emergency response.
The Insurance Services Office (ISO) issues ratings that are used by most insurance companies to help determine premiums for fire coverage. South Lane County Fire & Rescue is rated as a Class 2 district in Cottage Grove, placing it among the highest-rated fire protection levels outside of major metropolitan areas. Creswell is currently rated as a Class 4. Improved staffing and resources help the District maintain these ratings, which can directly affect insurance costs for residents and businesses.
Request for Quote
Quotes are due by 5:00 p.m. on June 30, 2024, September 30, 2024, and marked to the attention of John Wooten, Fire Chief, 233 E Harrison Ave, Cottage Grove, OR 97424. Submittals shall include a quote that identifies the cost breakdown for the various facets of the work requested. There will be no formal opening of the quotes received. Quotes will not be accepted after the stated submittal deadline date and time, and any late quotes will be rejected.
All questions related to this project should be directed to:
Justin Baird, Deputy Chief, at jbaird@southlanefire.org.