This measure is a Referral from the Lane Fire Authority
Financial impact: The current levy is $0.35 per $1000 of assessed value. Passage of the measure would increase property tax by $0.20 per $1000 of assessed value for general operations for five years beginning 2026-2027. This measure may cause property taxes to increase more than three percent. Note: Assessed value (AV) is the value used to calculate property tax. It is shown on the property tax statement. It is NOT the same as real market value (RMV), which is the market price of the home.
The estimated tax cost for this measure is an ESTIMATE ONLY based on the best information available from the county assessor at the time of estimate and may reflect the impact of early payment discounts, compression and the collection rate.
Proposed rate will raise approximately $1,744,426 in 2026-2027, $1,796,758 in 2027-2028, $1,850,661 in 2028-2029, $1,906,181 in 2029-2030, $1,963,366 in 2030-2031 for a total of $9,261,392.
“Yes” vote would increase property taxes by $0.20 per $1000 of assessed value for general operations for five years by renewing and increasing the current levy to $.55 per $1000.
“No” vote would reduce property taxes, but result in a decrease of fire services
Background: The local option levy funds daily operations. Lane Fire Authority provides fire suppression, emergency medical and life safety services to 45,000 people over 282 square miles in the heart of the Willamette Valley, with EMS accounting for approximately 80% of emergency calls. There are approximately 7,400 emergency calls per year by full-time and volunteer emergency personnel.
Call volumes have increased almost 20% since voters approved the local option levy in 2021. The local option levy supports the addition of two additional fire fighters to reduce response times and a modular building for staffing quarters in the South Response area.
More calls also mean added costs and these costs are higher due to inflation. These costs are out of the fire authority’s control but must be paid to continue to provide service. Some of these costs include:
- Increase in Ambulance licensing fees of 220%
- Overtime- 72% (So there are enough firefighters to respond to calls.)
- Maintenance and repair costs for fire and EMS equipment – 79%
- Federal and state mandates (FICA, Workers Compensation, PERS, Paid Leave Oregon) – 60%
- Insurance for the fire authority – 48%
- Health care costs – 27%
- 911 Dispatch services – 19%
Proposal: The measure would authorize Lane Fire Authority (District) to impose a general operations tax levy at the rate of $0.55 per $1000 of assessed value on real property located within the District beginning FY 2026-2027. If passed, the District will use the tax revenue to hire two full-time firefighter/medics and place living quarters in our South Battalion response area. This increase will help to ensure faster response times, better coverage and reduce wait times throughout the district.
Lane County Fire Authority is clear that while the levy funds daily operations, voter-approved bonds are necessary to fund capital projects. The fire authority may consider a bond within the next two to three years for station renovations and to replace aging apparatus.
Supporters say: The increase in call volume has real implications. If multiple calls come in at the same time, ambulances will need to be called from other locations, like Eugene/Springfield or Cottage Grove, which will further delay the response. If I need an ambulance, I don’t want a delay.
Opponents say: Everyone is really strapped for money; an increase in the cost for fire service is an expense that we can’t manage, particularly those on fixed incomes.