Wasatch County Fire Wasatch County Fire Protection SSDProtection SSD

Proposed Tax IncreaseProposed Tax Increase

Tax Increase ProcessTax Increase Process Public hearing in December 2012 noticed Public hearing in December 2012 noticed

twice in the two weeks prior to the twice in the two weeks prior to the meeting.meeting.

Public hearing on August 7 2013 noticed Public hearing on August 7 2013 noticed twice in two weeks prior to the meetingtwice in two weeks prior to the meeting

All notices regarding Wasatch County Fire All notices regarding Wasatch County Fire

District are posted on the Public Notice District are posted on the Public Notice Website, the District website Website, the District website wasatchcountyfire.com and, when required wasatchcountyfire.com and, when required by State statute, in the local newspaper.by State statute, in the local newspaper.

Comparison To Surrounding Comparison To Surrounding AreasAreas

North SummitNorth Summit 5.785.78 Utah CountyUtah County 8.758.75 South SummitSouth Summit 3.093.09 Park City FirePark City Fire 9.879.87 North DavisNorth Davis 14.67 14.67 PicklevillePickleville 4.254.25 Weber CountyWeber County 14.81 14.81 RandolphRandolph 8.038.03 Wasatch CountyWasatch County 2.422.42SOURCE: UTAH STATE TAX COMMISSIONSOURCE: UTAH STATE TAX COMMISSION

AverageAverage

The average mill levy for fire districts The average mill levy for fire districts in Utah is .0005999 or 5.99 mills. in Utah is .0005999 or 5.99 mills. With the proposed increase at 4.31 With the proposed increase at 4.31 mills in Wasatch County it will still be mills in Wasatch County it will still be lower than the average.lower than the average.

WCFD Response By Year

430

605

555525519

357

300

400

500

600

700

* PROJECTED

WCFD Certification HoursWCFD Certification Hours

Fire 1……………………………..116Fire 1……………………………..116 Fire 2…………………………….…48Fire 2…………………………….…48 Hazmat Awareness………........9Hazmat Awareness………........9 Hazmat Operations……………38Hazmat Operations……………38 Wild land Fire 1…………….....40Wild land Fire 1…………….....40 Extrication………………………..72Extrication………………………..72 Apparatus Driver/Operator…72Apparatus Driver/Operator…72 Fire Officer 1…………………….45Fire Officer 1…………………….45 EMT Basic……………………….120EMT Basic……………………….120

TOTAL HOURS…………560TOTAL HOURS…………560

Contributing Factors Contributing Factors

•Since the last tax increase 25 years ago, in 1988, the cost of living has increased approximately 75% and there has not been a cost of living build into the mill levy.

•Due to the nature of our community we receive extreme fluctuations in visitors that pass through and recreate in our valley creating a demand on emergency service resources.

•In order to maintain or lower our PPC In order to maintain or lower our PPC classification we need to update to the new classification we need to update to the new regulations for our personnel, and upgrade our regulations for our personnel, and upgrade our equipment and apparatus to match the 142% equipment and apparatus to match the 142% growth that has occurred in Wasatch County since growth that has occurred in Wasatch County since 1990.1990.

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5M

ILL

LE

VY

1988 4.53

CURRENT 2.42

WASATCH COUNTY POPULATION

8,500

10,500

12,500

14,500

16,500

18,500

20,500

22,500

24,500

1980 1990 2000 2010

23,530

15,215

10,089

What Will the Tax IncreaseWhat Will the Tax IncreaseCost Me Per Year?Cost Me Per Year?

Primary residence calculationPrimary residence calculation

Taxable Value Current Proposed DifferenceTaxable Value Current Proposed Difference$150,000.00$150,000.00 19.97 19.97 35.94 35.94 15.97 15.97$200,000.00 26.68 47.92 21.24$200,000.00 26.68 47.92 21.24$250,000.00 33.28$250,000.00 33.28 59.90 59.90 26.62 26.62$300,000.00 $40.26 $71.12 $30.86$300,000.00 $40.26 $71.12 $30.86

The increase would cost a primary residence about $5.30 per $50,000.00 of value The increase would cost a primary residence about $5.30 per $50,000.00 of value per year.per year.

Primary residences are taxed at a lower rate than secondary homes or commercial Primary residences are taxed at a lower rate than secondary homes or commercial businesses.businesses.

Your TAXABLE value can be found on your property tax notice.Your TAXABLE value can be found on your property tax notice.

1988 1988

$150,000 Home Value

FIRE TAX $30.00

Purchasing Power $30.00

Mill Levy 4.53

$300,000 Home Value

FIRE TAX $30.00

Purchasing Power $15.20

Mill Levy 2.42

20122012

IF APPROVED, THE MILL LEVY FOR 2013 WOULD BE 4.31

How will a tax How will a tax increaseincrease

benefit me?benefit me?The vast majority of residents in Wasatch The vast majority of residents in Wasatch County will never experience a fire in their County will never experience a fire in their

home or business, but all are affected by the home or business, but all are affected by the cost of insurance. Aside from the obvious, the cost of insurance. Aside from the obvious, the

average property owner benefits in more average property owner benefits in more ways than one from a well equipped, well ways than one from a well equipped, well staffed, and well trained fire organization. staffed, and well trained fire organization. Fire departments have a positive impact on Fire departments have a positive impact on property insurance premiums. Insurance property insurance premiums. Insurance

companies use figures provided by the ISO to companies use figures provided by the ISO to determine the insurance rates for a determine the insurance rates for a

community. community.

What is the ISO?What is the ISO?

Insurance premiums are based on the Insurance premiums are based on the ISO or Insurance Services Office rating; ISO or Insurance Services Office rating;

with a great rating, the local fire with a great rating, the local fire department can be the reason you are department can be the reason you are getting a better rate on your insurance. getting a better rate on your insurance.

Communities are assigned a Public Communities are assigned a Public Protection Classification from 1 to 10. Protection Classification from 1 to 10.

A class 1 represents superior fire A class 1 represents superior fire protection. The rating is based on what protection. The rating is based on what

the firefighters can do as well as the firefighters can do as well as engines, trucks, the communities water engines, trucks, the communities water

supply and communication abilities.supply and communication abilities.

The last ISO assessment of Wasatch County The last ISO assessment of Wasatch County was in 2002, which set the PPC rating for the was in 2002, which set the PPC rating for the

County at a 6 and 9 in outlying communities.County at a 6 and 9 in outlying communities.

With this tax increase wewill work diligently to dropour ISO rating to a 4 or better, which would save the citizens close to the amount of theproposed tax increase.

Since the last assessment communications has added a second dispatcher and the water sources have been improved and updated throughout the county.

The last apparatus WCFD was able to purchase was in 2007 and the oldest was purchased in 1971.

The current average age of front line fire apparatus in Wasatch County is 1991.

WCFD call volume has increased 20% every year since 2009.

WCFD has responded to 519 calls in 2011 and 525 in 2012. This is the number of calls not the number of apparatus or personnel responding to each call.

There are currently over 12,655 structures in Wasatch County with 290 that are 3 stories or higher, which out reaches the current aerial apparatus of the District.

WCFD provides coverage to 1,191 square miles. This includes seven communities-Heber, Midway, Charleston, Daniel, Wallsburg, Independence, Hideout and the remainder of the county stretching to Soldier Summit on the South, Wolf Creek Pass on the North, Sundance on the West and Current Creek on the East.

Current StatusCurrent Status

HEBER STATIONHEBER STATION

IMMEDIATE NEEDS- Remodel……..$1,600,000Ladder Truck..$600,000

MIDWAY STATIONMIDWAY STATION

IMMEDIATE NEEDS- New station……..$500,000Ladder Truck……$400,000Class A Pumper..$350,000

TOTAL APPROXMATE

COST

$1,250,000

JORDANELLE STATIONJORDANELLE STATION

IMMEDIATE NEEDS-Ladder Truck..$600,000

WALLSBURG STATIONWALLSBURG STATION

IMMEDIATE NEEDPumper Truck..$400,000

The Timberlakes Fire Station was recently completed and a structure pumper, tanker and fast attack vehicle have beenplaced in the station. IMMEDIATE NEEDS Fast Attack Truck..$200,000 Pumper………………$600,000

TIMBERLAKES STATIONTIMBERLAKES STATION

TOTAL COST OF NEEDED TOTAL COST OF NEEDED IMPROVEMENTSIMPROVEMENTS

Heber Station………..$2,200,000Heber Station………..$2,200,000 Midway Station…..…$1,200,000Midway Station…..…$1,200,000 Jordanelle Station….$600,000Jordanelle Station….$600,000 Wallsburg Station…..$400,000Wallsburg Station…..$400,000 Timberlakes Station..$800,000Timberlakes Station..$800,000

TOTAL COST $5,200,000TOTAL COST $5,200,000

Using the Resources We HaveUsing the Resources We Have

The District has received grants exceeding The District has received grants exceeding $750,000.00 in the last 10 years to $750,000.00 in the last 10 years to purchase apparatus and equipment.purchase apparatus and equipment.

Wasatch County has assisted with building Wasatch County has assisted with building and remodeling stations. (Timberlakes and remodeling stations. (Timberlakes and Wallsburg)and Wallsburg)

WCFD is a majority on call service, WCFD is a majority on call service, meaning Firefighters respond from their meaning Firefighters respond from their work or home in the event of a call and work or home in the event of a call and respond to the volunteer station closest to respond to the volunteer station closest to them.them.

WCFD responded to 3 large wildfires in 2012 with a cost estimate of 1.5 million dollars.

The resources and improvements saved during these wildfires was estimated at over 40 billion dollars.