LA PINE, OR -- The La Pine Rural Fire protection District will ask voters in May to renew funding for the fire and EMS Service District. Fire Chief Mike Supkis says this is the same tax rate that's been in place for the last 20 years, "The district has been very conscientious with the tax dollars. we're a little of an anomaly, we don't carry any debt, we don't do any bonds, we believe every penny of taxpayers' dollars should go to provide the service, and that's kind of unusual today in local government." He tells KBND News, "The funds are necessary to provide the essential services of the fire district. And this fire district tracks every penny that [taxpayers] do give us, and they are resourceful and frugal with their tax dollars, and our folks set out to provide exemplary and caring service."
According to Supkis, the current levy is set to expire in July of 2019, and a vote to support the measure would extend the levy another five years. The District covers the three fire stations located at Huntington, Burgess/Day, and South Century Drive. "We've had levy support for this Fire District for over 20 years, and the community has strongly supported those levies, and our Board has been able to manage the Fire District on the funds our district has. Because it's a local option levy, we go out to the voters every five years, and basically, have them take a look, see how we're doing with their hard-earned tax funds, and are we doing the job we say we're doing with it."
If the levy passes, it would continue at $.64 per $1,000 of assessed value for an additional five years, which means a home valued at $100,000 would pay $64 a year.
