Mountain View Fire and Rescue is hosting two public meetings to answer questions about its proposed Maintenance and Operations Levy. Ballots for the August 4 Primary Election will be mailed on July 17. Meetings are planned for July 14 and July 28 at 6:30 p.m. Please access the fire district’s website at www.mvfire.org for instructions on accessing the virtual meetings.
At both meetings, Chief Greg Smith will provide an update about the ballot measure. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions after his brief presentation.
Chief Smith also welcomes opportunities to present about the M&O Levy to community service organizations and home owner association groups. Interested parties can contact him at (253) 735-0284 or chiefsmith@mvfire.org to schedule a presentation.
“COVID-19 has limited our ability to interact with community members, and we miss that personal connection,” said Chief Smith. “We hope people will join us for these meetings, or invite us to make a presentation to their community group.”
Mountain View Fire and rescue is asking voters to approve a temporary M&O Levy of 30-cents per $1,000 of assessed property value during the August Primary. Funding would be used to replace a fire engine, water tender and personal protective equipment for firefighters. A portion also would fund major maintenance projects for community fire stations to make them last longer.
The temporary M&O Levy would last for four years (starting in 2021), while the items it purchases will last 15-30 years. The additional cost to an average homeowner for the area would be $9.60 a month.
In 2013, voters approved a temporary M&O Levy for operations at the same rate of 30-cents per $1,000, which expired in 2017. That was only the second time the Fire District had requested additional revenue from taxpayers in its 66-year history.
Call volumes increased almost six percent last year for the Fire District, which responds to approximately 2,200 emergencies a year. The Fire District is limited to a one percent annual revenue increase per year, which is not keeping up with the demand for service.
More information about the M&O Levy can be found at www.mvfire.org.