Gravois Fire Protection District to ask voters for tax increase

Fire district holding a series of public meetings to seek voter approval for an increase in its annual property tax

Gravois Fire Protection District Chief Ed Hancock said an increase in the district's property tax levy has become necessary if the district is to continue its current ISO rating, maintain its current level of service and keep all its equipment and facilities in top operating condition.

After making the decision to ask property owners within its parameters for a tax increase last spring, district officials began inviting the public to a series of open houses where they could learn why the district feels the increase is necessary.

After a number of these open houses had been held, Hancock issued a written statement about why the district believes the tax increase is necessary.

In that statement Hancock wrote, while not all property owners profit by the district's ISO rating, many insurance companies do use that rating to determine the amount of premium dollars they charge for homeowners insurance.

In commenting on the need to maintain the district's current ISO rating Hancock wrote, "We believe that maintaining ISO and anything we can do to obtain a better rating in general benefits the area we serve. You do have to be realistic in setting a goal for ISO rating, the very best rating is obtainable but it costs money, the decision should be what is reasonably obtainable and what level of costs can the area support."

In responding to questions about why the district does not save money by cutting some non-emergency services, Hancock wrote that while not everything the district does is related to fires, vehicle crashes or rescues, it would not be in the residents' best interest to cut out other services as a way to save money.

"We have always attempted to respond to any request for service or assistance to the members of our community, we have considerable resources and trained personnel that can adapt those resources and utilize their skills to assist in untraditional types of calls," he wrote. "The question is: we can help and if we do not who else can or will?"

He also said that while it is true the district does not operate ambulances, it does have paramedics on staff that can utilize drugs as well as advanced medical techniques and equipment and often responds to life threatening emergencies.

He said in 2015 medical emergencies made up about 65 percent of all the calls the district made. He also said because there are a limited number of ambulance services in the area the ability of the fire district to send paramedics to medical emergencies is vital to residents of the district. Plus, Hancock said, in 2015 district personnel provided assistance to 26 ill and/or disabled residents who needed help is getting up from a fall, or getting into a vehicle so they could go to the doctor or in exiting a vehicle and returning home following a medical visit.

As to maintaining the current level of equipment and facilities, Hancock said it is vital that the district be financially capable of establishing fire houses near population centers, keeping its equipment in good working order and its firefighting apparatus up-to-date if the district is to offer protection to the residents its serves while keeping its ISO rating at the lowest level possible.

"Nobody likes more taxes, the district does not want to ask for more taxes but if the citizens we serve wish for the district to continue to provide the current level of service and to be able to continue that level of service in the future additional revenue is required," Hancock wrote. "The taxpayers have the choice of whether we continue to provide current services and continue into the future or if we begin cutbacks and firehouse closings, at the Aug. 2 election when they cast their vote for yes or no to the Levy increase for the Gravois Fire Protection District."

The question on the Aug. 2 primary election ballot will read as follows: "In order to maintain the ability to provide established services to the residents of our district, to maintain a sufficient number of firefighters, to provide for necessary replacement of firefighting equipment, and to prevent reduction of any and all services to the district or the closing of any firehouses, shall the Board of Directors of the Gravois Fire Protection District be authorized to levy an additional tax of not more than thirty (30) cents per one hundred (100) dollars assessed valuation ... yes or no?"

The district will hold three more open houses prior to the election to give all affected property owners the chance to discuss the ballot measure with fire officials.

All open houses will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with the meeting dates and locations as follows:

Saturday, July 16 - Fire Station G-4, 29710 Camellia Road, Gravois Mills, Missouri

Saturday, July 23 Fire Station G-5, 215 state Route O, Laurie, Missouri

Saturday, July 30 Fire Station G-2, 29353 Silver Moon Resort, Gravois Mills, Missouri

Officials with the Gravois Fire Protection District will also host two public meetings in July regarding the proposed request for a levy increase. The two meetings are scheduled at 7 p.m. July 25 at the G-5 Firehouse meeting hall at 215 Route O in Laurie and at 7 p.m. July 28 at the G-1 Firehouse at 26863 Missouri 5 in Gravois Mills.