GORDONVILLE FIRE DISTRICT PITCHES PLAN TO RESIDENTS

GORDONVILLE -- More than 50 residents of the Gordonville Fire District turned out to hear the department's pitch for the approval of a tax incentive to upgrade fire protection within the district.

"We hope to enlighten you on what this measure means to us as voters and as citizens of this district," said Gordonville Fire Chief Patrick Jett.

Gordonville's fire district was started more than 20 years ago on a $4,000 grant from the sate. Today, the department has about 30 trained firefighters and serves 9,000 people in a 120-square mile area.

The measure calls for 30 cents of every $100 of assessed value of the home, farm and property, or business, as figured by the County Assessor's office.

For example, a residence assessed by the county at $50,000 would be multiplied by 19 percent (a number set forth is state fire district codes), for a total of $9,500. From that amount, the fire district would receive 30 cents of every $100, resulting in a tax bill of $28.50.

Farmland and utility buildings are taxed at a 12 percent rate; the homes on the farmland are considered residential and figured at 19 percent. Commercial property rates will be figured with a 33 percent differential.

Currently the department relies on annual, optional $30 donations from the community.

"About 30-40 percent of the people within the district never contribute a dime," Jett said. "This would alleviate that problem; everyone would pay equally based on the assessed value of what we own."

Jett said that poorer people who rent homes would not be subject to this tax. "Only people who own real estate within the fire district would be taxed," he said.

The fire chief said that the measure would almost double the funds currently available to the fire district and that the money is badly needed. The fire district currently receives about $27,000 a year in donations; it budget runs at $28,000-$30,000 a year.

"We have equipment that's 20 years old," Jett said. "I stand to gain nothing from this as your fire chief, but the district stands to gain immensely."

Jett said that a major benefit of the measure will be a possible reduction in the ISO (Insurance Service Organization) rating of the area, bringing with it a reduction in insurance rates for all residents.

"For the first year or two your tax money will be an investment in us as we upgrade and increase the water flow ability in the area," Jett said. "But we hope that within that time we will be able to go from an ISO rating of 9 to an ISO of 8.

"So in the end, you the voters will come out ahead," he said.

A reduction of a single point in the ISO system can reduce the annual insurance rates on a $50,000 home from $387 to $263, according to an average taken of figures supplied by local insurance companies.

In addition to explaining the technicalities of the tax incentive, Jett explained the three-member fire district board, which would be formed if the measure passes June 8.

The members of the board would serve as an executive committee and would regulate the tax amount assessed every year.

"We started this out with the highest amount we could: 30 cents on every $100," Jett said. "But as we make improvements and can determine how much money will be needed in the next year, that amount can and will be lowered.

"(The Fire Department is) a very resourceful group," Jett said. "We know how to stretch a dollar. We learned that the hard way."

The passage of the tax measure would mean increased funds not only to purchase new equipment, open two new fire stations and increase fire flow, but it would serve personnel purposes, too.

"Passage of the measure would free up a lot of time for training of the firefighters in the district," Jett said. "You have no idea how many hours we spend every year trying to raise money for the department."

If the measure does not pass, the city will resume control of the fire district, and it will continue to rely on donations for its vitality.