Fire districts seeking tax hikes to avert layoffs

In 2006, the Black Forest and Falcon fire districts were adding firefighters while banking on new homes being built in northern and eastern El Paso County to cover the costs when grants ran out.

The problem: The developers never came.

Reeling from years of falling property tax revenue, the Black Forest and Falcon fire protection districts are asking voters  this November for tax increases that would prevent the layoffs of six firefighters in each district.

The proposals are among four in El Paso County aimed at increasing property taxes to pay for firefighters. The other two, on the ballot in the Cimarron Hills Fire Protection District, would address long-standing legal challenges to the district’s tax rate. Six of its firefighters could also be laid off if voters defeat the measures.

“This is about sustaining what we currently have,” said Falcon Fire Chief Trent Harwig.

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A SAFER bet gone bad

The proposed 4.25 mill property tax hike in Black Forest would increase taxes by $116 a year on a $342,000 house, the median home value in Black Forest, supporters say.

In Falcon, residents owning a $200,000 house would pay $46.20 more a year if the 2.9-mill initiative passes.

The ballot issues come as the districts face the end of a five-year federal grant that paid for six firefighters in each district.

The grant targeted growing communities as a way to help each district ease into the burden of paying for the firefighters. With each year that passed, the districts were supposed to pay a greater percentage of the firefighters’ salary, using property tax revenue that was projected to grow.

“SAFER (the grant) was established with the theory that everything was going to get a little better,” Harwig said. “Great concept — worked perfect for us for three years. And then in the fourth year, we were notified our assessed value fell off a cliff.”

The recession-induced drop in property taxes cut into each district’s budget.

Should the measure fail, Falcon’s full-time staffing numbers will be cut from 15 to nine. It will still have roughly 25 volunteer firefighters.

In Black Forest, six of the 10 full-time firefighters will be cut, with 35 volunteer firefighters remaining.

The loss of more than half of Black Forest’s staff could force the district to rely on help from other agencies, said Kathy Russell, fire spokeswoman.

“Someone will come; we don’t want to do scare tactics,” Russell said. “But depending on where (a paramedic) is stationed, it could take longer to get there.”

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Cimarron Hills

The two measures up for a vote in Cimarron Hills come as the district faces a lawsuit alleging it illegally raised taxes, netting $2.6 million in the process.

Closing arguments in the suit — which requests the $2.6 million be refunded to taxpayers — were heard Thursday. Judge David S. Prince has yet to rule.

The suit centers on complaints that past board members raised the district’s mill levy rate despite warnings from their attorney. District officials have argued board members were using a TABOR-sanctioned method for raising taxes based on local growth and inflation in Cimarron Hills.

Ballot measure 5C would set the amount the district collects every year from residents at $1,603,641, which is how much Cimarron Hills residents paid in taxes to the district. The unique taxing formula means exact mill rates could change, but the total amount the fire department receives from the community each year would remain the same.

A second measure, Issue 5D, would raise $2.6 million in property taxes and immediately refund that amount back to taxpayers, as a way to pay off revenues earned since 2006.

The measure is meant as a fail-safe should the district lose the lawsuit.

If it loses both, Chief Matthew Love warned deep cuts could be on the way. He said six firefighters would be laid off and several programs, including education programs, could be cut. The district’s advanced life support services would also be trimmed down to a more basic program.

“It’s going to be kind of a shock to the community when we’re not going to be able to provide that (progressive service) anymore,” Love said.

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Contact Jakob Rodgers: 476-1654

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