Red Feather Lakes Fire District will vote on tax increase

The Red Feather Lakes Fire Protection District has proposed mill levy increase on the November ballot.

The district board is asking for an increase of 4.1 mills. The current property tax of slightly more than 8 mills includes a temporary levy of 1.6 mills used to build the fire barn. That levy expires in 2014.

Steve Robinson, chief of the Red Feather Lakes Volunteer Fire Department, said the district's efforts to improve its insurance rating should offset a higher mill levy.

"Because of our recent improvement of our ISO Town Class rating going from a Town Class 9 to a Town Class 7, we have estimated an average savings of $200 annually to homeowners insurance costs," he said.

Robinson estimated the insurance savings districtwide totals about $140,000 in comparison with $105,000 the district now receives each year from property taxes.

Firefighter safety is the top priority for revenues from an additional mill levy, Robinson said. If approved by voters, additional funds will go toward replacing the department's frontline Class A Pumper, which is a 1980 model, with a new 4x4 Class A Pumper designed and built for firefighter safety.

Additional funds will also keep firefighters up to date in personnel protective equipment, Robinson said. The cost to equip one firefighter with all PPE is $2,500 to $3,000.

Funds will also go toward improving the firefighter pension program, he said.

In addition, the funds will be used to upgrade two-wheel-drive fire trucks to four-wheel-drive.

"We all remember last winter," Robinson said.

Funds also are needed to upgrade fire hose, self-contained breathing apparatus and radio equipment, and the additional mill levy will help pay fixed operating costs such as fuel, propane and insurance, he said.

Robinson said the district has a grant writer, but grants are not guaranteed and, if awarded, normally require matching funds.

This election, like all others in the county this fall, will be conducted by mail-in ballots. The Larimer County Clerk and Recorder's office will mail ballots to eligible voters around Oct. 12. Those with questions about their voting status may call 498-7820.