By admin Published October 18, 2018

Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District is on the ballot this November asking voters to consider two ballot questions. The first question (7B) is to increase the operating mill levy. The second question (7C) is to allow the District to bond $7.5 million for apparatus, buildings and equipment.

We know that our voters have questions on these proposals and we want to answer your questions.  These are brief answers to the two ballot questions. The next two posts will have more detailed information.

Ballot Question 7B (Operating Mill Levy) FAQs

• What Is The Current Mill Levy For The General Fund?
  7.65 Mills

• What Is The Proposed Mill Levy Increase?
  2.81 Mills

• How Much Additional Tax Will Be Collected?
  $1,027,786

• What Is The Additional Annual Tax Per $100,000 Of Residential Property?
  $20.00 Annually Per $100,000, Approximately
  ($600,000 Property – $12.00 Per Month)

• How Much Has The Fire District Increased Spending In The Past 5 Years?
  3% Per Annum

• What Will The Additional Money Be Used For?
  Personnel, $571,081
  Training, $29,523 (Total Training Budget $61,000)
  Volunteer Recruitment & Retention, $35,000
  Equipment, $58,857
  Continuing Capital Replacement Fund $250,000

• Why Does The Fire District Need The Money?
  To Ensure That Crfpd’s Essential Emergency Services Are Adequately Funded To Enable A Continued And Sustainable High Standard Of Care For The Citizens Of The Communities That We Serve

Ballot Question 7C (Bond Issue) Faqs

• What Is The Current Mill Levy For The Bond Fund?
  1.64 Mills

• What Is The Proposed Mill Levy Increase?
  0.41 Mills

• How Much Additional Tax Will Be Collected?
  $249,746 Per Annum

• What Is The Additional Annual Tax Per $100,000 Of Residential Property?

$2.95 Annually Per $100,000, Approximately ($600,000 Property =  $1.48 Per Month)

• What Is The Total Amount Of The Bond Issue?
  $7.5 million

Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District Ballot Question 7B (Operating Mill Levy)

SHALL THE CARBONDALE AND RURAL FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT TAXES BE INCREASED UP TO $1.7 MILLION ANNUALLY (FOR COLLECTION IN CALENDAR YEAR 2019) AND BY SUCH ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS RAISED ANNUALLY THEREAFTER BY AN AD VALOREM PROPERTY TAX IMPOSED AT A RATE OF 4.569 MILLS (WHICH RATE INCLUDES THE EXTENDED MILL LEVY APPROVED BY THE ELECTORS IN 2017) IN ORDER TO MEET THE OPERATIONAL COSTS OF PROVIDING FIRE PROTECTION, MEDICAL, RESCUE AND OTHER EMERGENCY SERVICES; AND SHALL THE REVENUE FROM THE OPERATING MILL LEVY CONSTITUTE A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE X, SECTION 20 OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION AND AN EXCEPTION TO THE LIMITATIONS SET FORTH IN SECTION 29-1-301 OF THE COLORADO REVISED STATUTES?

Carbondale & Rural Fire Protection District Ballot Question 7C (Bond Issue)

SHALL THE CARBONDALE AND RURAL FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT DEBT BE INCREASED UP TO $7.5 MILLION, WITH A MAXIMUM REPAYMENT COST OF UP TO $15.1 MILLION, AND SHALL DISTRICT TAXES BE INCREASED UP TO $720,000 ANNUALLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF FINANCING THE COSTS OF,

 – PURCHASING AND UPGRADING TEN FIREFIGHTING APPARATUS AND THREE AMBULANCES TO REPLACE AN AGING FLEET,

 – CONSTRUCTING A MULTIFUNCTION TRAINING FACILITY TO IMPROVE RESPONSE CAPABILITY AND ENHANCE RESPONDER SAFETY,

 – EXPANDING TWO FIRE STATIONS BY THE ADDITION OF APPARATUS BAYS TO PROPERLY HOUSE AND POSITION APPARATUS, AND

 – CONSTRUCTING A MAINTENANCE FACILITY TO ENABLE THE DISTRICT TO PERFORM COMPREHENSIVE MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT,

AND TO THE EXTENT FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE, EQUIPPING, IMPROVING AND ACQUIRING FIRE PROTECTION APPARATUS AND FACILITIES, SUCH DEBT TO CONSIST OF THE ISSUANCE AND PAYMENT OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, WHICH BONDS SHALL BEAR INTEREST AT A MAXIMUM NET EFFECTIVE INTEREST RATE NOT TO EXCEED 5.5% PER ANNUM AND BE ISSUED AT SUCH TIMES AND PRICES (AT, ABOVE OR BELOW PAR) AND IN SUCH MANNER AND CONTAINING SUCH TERMS, NOT INCONSISTENT HEREWITH, AS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MAY DETERMINE; SHALL AD VALOREM PROPERTY TAXES BE LEVIED WITHOUT LIMIT AS TO THE MILL RATE TO GENERATE AN AMOUNT SUFFICIENT IN EACH YEAR TO PAY THE PRINCIPAL OF, PREMIUM IF ANY, AND INTEREST ON SUCH DEBT AND TO FUND ANY RESERVES FOR THE PAYMENT THEREOF; AND SHALL ANY EARNINGS FROM THE INVESTMENT OF THE PROCEEDS OF SUCH TAXES AND BONDS CONSTITUTE A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE?