Referral: from the Springfield City Council
Financial impact: The proposed levy replaces the expiring $0.38 per $100,000 assessed valuation on property with a $0.53 levy to fund fire and life safety services. 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.
A typical Springfield home with an assessed value of $189,000 would pay approximately $100 per year. Note: Because this is an increase in the size of the levy, this would amount to a increase in taxes for this home of $28/year, about $2.40/month.
“Yes” vote: If the measure passes, the city would maintain the current level of funding and response times.
“No” vote: If the measure fails, the City would lose funding for one of five engine crews. This would likely result in delayed emergency medical are, reduced capacity during peak call volumes, and fever available units for medical and fire emergencies. For a house with an assessed valuation of $189, 000, when the current levy expires, property taxes will decrease to $63.36.
Background: The joint Eugene/Springfield Fire Department is responsible for fire and rescue services not only within the city limits of Eugene/Springfield but also includes the special districts of Glenwood and Rainbow Water Districts and a portion of the Willakenzie Fire Protection District which contract for this service. The ESFD also provides ambulance transport for a much larger, 1,452-square-mile Ambulance Service Area that includes East and central Lane County, reaching as far as the Deschutes County line. Funding from Springfield comes from the general fund and the Springfield fire levy. The fire levy has been funded since 2002 at a rate of $0.38 per $100,000 of assessed valuation; the current levy request is for a $0.53 rate. Funding from Eugene for ESFD come primarily from the City’s General Fund with a small supplement from the Community Safety Payroll Tax.
Proposal: The funding would maintain the current level of emergency medical, rescue and fire response, including staffing and operating the City’s five fire engine crews. Each crew is staffed with fighter-paramedics who respond 24/7 across Springfield. Funds from this levy would support personnel, training, safety equipment, emergency dispatch, and other operational costs. The increased rate reflects inflation and the rising cost of maintaining these essential services. The funding is required to fully fund Eugene Springfield Fire Station 3, at North 28th Street and Centennial Boulevard, which is the last Fire Station to be established. The current levy pays for about 65% of costs at the station. If the levy is not funded, Fire Station 3 will be closed.
Supporters say: Fire Station 3 responded to 21% of the city’s overall calls for fire, rescue and emergency medical response in 2024. There is one crew at each station. When that crew is involved in an emergency it is unable to respond to a new emergency. The increase in emergency fire/medical calls makes that situation more likely, resulting in a response from a fire station that is more distant. The loss of Station 3 makes this more likely.
Opponents say: The increase in the levy is an extra burden for homeowners, making affordable housing an even more distant goal. The levy is only a short-term fix and doesn’t address underlying structural budget problems, such as an over-reliance on property taxes.