The Rock Community Fire Protection District will ask voters on April 2 to approve a property tax increase of up to 15 cents per $100 assessed valuation.
Revenue from the tax increase would be used to help fund its pension plan, district officials said.
The measure will require a simple majority to pass.
Chief Kevin Wingbermuehle said the district is asking for the tax increase because Rock Fire has added numerous firefighters over the past few years.
“Since 2017, the district has added 18 employees,” he said. “As promised, this was done to increase the safety of our community and overall operational efficiency.”
Wingbermuehle also said the district has had a lot of firefighters retire in recent years.
“Firefighting is a physically demanding and hazardous profession. The risks associated with the job can lead to injuries, disabilities or health issues over time,” he said. “Several of our members have faced mandatory retirement due to the nature of their work.
“In the past year alone, Rock Community has experienced the (deaths) of three active-duty firefighters, all in their late 40s or early 50s. Two of these were due to job-related hazards – cancer.”
The measure, which is called Proposition R, will read, “Shall the board of directors of the Rock Community Fire Protection District be authorized to levy an additional tax of not more than Fifteen Cents per one hundred dollars assessed valuation to provide funds for the support of the pension plan in the Rock Community Fire Protection District?”
Wingbermuehle said if voters approve the tax hike, Rock Fire won’t necessarily increase the rate by the full 15 cents.
“The district has always maintained a conservative approach with public funds and would only request what is necessary to ensure the longevity of the program,” he said. “These values are based off of current actuarial calculations. The Board of Directors may choose to voluntarily lower this rate based on current actuarial calculations at that time.”
Wingbermuehle said passage of the tax increase would allow Rock Fire to show a commitment to recruit and retain well-trained, experienced firefighters.
“It reflects the community’s commitment to taking care of their firefighters who place the well-being of others before their own every day,” he said.
Rock Fire’s current tax levy is $1.1796 per $100 assessed valuation. If voters approve the tax increase and the district raises the tax levy by the full 15 cents, the tax levy would increase to $1.3296 per $100 assessed valuation.
The full 15-cent tax increase would cost Rock Fire residents with a home valued at $200,000 by the Jefferson County Assessor’s Office another $57 a year, for a total of $505.25 per year in property taxes to the district.
Wingbermuehle said Rock Fire’s current tax levy is divided into four funds. Of the $1.1796 per $100 assessed valuation, 98.05 cents goes into the district’s general revenue fund, 8.64 cents goes into the pension fund, 7 cents goes into the debt service fund and 4.27 cents goes into the communications fund.
Rock Fire last asked for a tax increase in April 2017, when voters approved raising the district’s tax levy by 50 cents. That increase, called Proposition Life Safety, required a simple majority to pass, and the vote was 3,192, or 52.02 percent, in favor to 2,944, or 47.98 percent, against.
“This was a general revenue increase that continues to be used for the purposes of updating equipment, apparatus, technology, ensuring access to appropriate training, replacing expired safety gear and for additional staffing to help meet national standards,” Wingbermuehle said.
Rock Fire also collects a 1/2-cent sales tax.
Board of Director members voted unanimously Jan. 18 to place the measure on the April ballot.