Referral from the South Lane County Fire and Rescue, SLCFR
Financial impact If adopted, starting in fiscal year 2026-2027, this measure would replace the existing levy of $0.47 per $1,000 of assessed value with a new levy of $.94 per $1,000 of assessed value. If passed, the measure would cost property owners $0.94 per $1,000 of assessed property value beginning in 2026. 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 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. Because this is an increase of $0.47 per $1000 if assessed valuation, this means that the amount of additional tax would be $7.78/month or $93.36 per year.
The proposed rate will raise approximately $2,444,580 in 2026-2027, $2,517,917 in 2027-2028, $2,593,454 in 2028-2029, $2,671,258 in 2029-2030, and $2,751,395 in 2030-2031, for a total over five years of $12,978,604.
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. This measure may cause property taxes to increase more than three percent.
“Yes” vote would increase the property tax supporting a third ambulance and 6 additional full-time staff and one apprentice. It would also support equipment maintenance and replacement
“No” vote would leave the current rate of $0.47/$100,000 of assessed valuation in place until it expires in 2027. There would be no increase in property taxes. It would also leave in place current response rates fire and emergency services.
Background: South Lane County Fire & Rescue provides fire and life safety services within the territory of the Fire District, 24/7 via a combination of paid professional staff and trained volunteers. 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 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. 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.
There are four fire stations, one each in Cottage Grove and two in more rural areas, one west of Creswell on Camus Swale Rd and one outside of Saginaw. 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 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.
The first local option levy for SLCFR was passed in 2012 for a rate of $0.047, renewed in 2017, and in 2022 for operations and staffing necessary to meet increased fire and ambulance call volume. The current levy expires in FY 2027/2028. If this levy 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.
Proposal The new levy will allow the Fire District to meet increased costs and call volumes by funding the purchase and staffing of a third District ambulance. The new levy will also allow the Fire District to continue funding other services, apparatus replacement, facilities maintenance, and equipment replacement. Without the new levy funding, the Fire District will need to reduce its level of support to the community.
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.
Supporters say: While the increase in the levy will increase taxes, the investment helps to maintain the insurance ratings that allow it to have one of the highest-rated fire protection levels outside a major metropolitan area, which directly affects insurance costs for residents and businesses. This, coupled with increased response time, is an important benefit for South Lane County.
Opponents say: Expenses are continuing to increase and many families can’t afford an increase in property taxes.