Budget

6 responses to “Budget”

1. barb ayers | July 1, 2010 at 2:03 am | Reply

   Shoot- the first year budget was up earlier today- can you please re post? Thanks

2. barb ayers | July 1, 2010 at 2:05 am | Reply

   At yours, and the commissioner’s request Tuesday, I am happy to volunteer to help spread the word and help build awareness and support for the new Mosier fire district. Maybe we will, at last, get to work together in local fire service!

   I have created a flyer to get local citizens to attend the upcoming budget meeting.
   Let me know if you have any changes.

   Thanks!

3. Scott Baker | July 5, 2010 at 8:29 pm | Reply

   Congratulations on the forming of the new Fire District! As we bask in the glow of victory I think it is important to respect and acknowledge that over 40% of our friends and neighbors voted to NOT form this District. Clearly everyone values the work that the volunteers do…so they must have felt that they simply could not afford the extra $25 (or more) per month in fees. Please Please do not get carried away with your new taxing power. I would urge you to create a budget at much more reasonable amount than $1.65 p/k, and certainly not up to the full $2.10! Please respect the financial reality that affects many people in this valley and do not hire a full time chief, focus on training and equipment for the volunteers. Please question the need for SCBAs due to high cost of equip and training required. Anything more than doubling the current budget seems ridiculous at a time when so many are struggling. Thank you again for all of your dedication. Scott

4. mosierfire | July 6, 2010 at 12:43 am | Reply

   Thanks Scott —

   Just so we’re clear, your own taxes will go up by much less than $100/yr, even at the rate limit of $2.10. If you know otherwise, please set me straight.

   Here’s some information you may find helpful in understanding the effect of the tax:

   At least 256 residential properties in this district have a taxable assessed value (TAV) between $20,oooo and $100,000. (There are undoubtedly residences with a TAV below $20K but the data is hard to filter at the low end.)

   189 residential properties in this district have at TAV between $100K – 199K.

   83 residential properties in this district have a TAV between $200K – 299K.

   26 residential properties in this district have a TAV between $300K – 399K.

   Eleven properties in this district have a TAV between $400K – 499K.

   Five properties have a TAV between $500K – 599K.

   Two properties have a TAV between $600K – 699K.

   One property has a TAV between $700K – 799K.

   There are no properties between $800K – 899K.

   One property has a TAV between $900K – 999K.

   Two properties have TAV’s of $1.6M.

   Our highest-value residential property has a TAV of $1.9M.

   That’s about 560 households.

   The median (No. 280 out of 560) has a TAV of $113K, meaning that fifty percent of the households in our district will pay less than $237 in total fire district tax.

   Two-thirds of the residential properties in the district will pay less than $25 per month.

   * * *

   I don’t dispute that hard times are here, and I want to assure you that we are looking to hold the budget to essentials only. I would dispute your remedy, though: SCBA’s are essential for all structure and vehicle fires, and without them we are putting firefighters and our community at risk.

   A great deal of thought and care has gone into the proposed budget, which has evolved from the version linked to above. I would hope that in due time most of the 140 voters who opposed the fire district will see this both as affordable and as money well spent.

   — Jim Appleton, Mosier Fire Chief
   541.478.3333

   • Scott Baker | July 7, 2010 at 1:18 am | Reply

     Hello Jim,
     Thank you for your thoughtful reply. To answer your question my personal taxes will go up $168 per year. (it has already been pointed out that your online tax rate calculator underestimates for city residents…maybe you used that calculator to come up your much lower number?) Fortunatly I am employed and can afford the increase. Many people are not so lucky. I am just trying to take their situation into consideration. Unifying into a single district was a common sense solution to a problem and I am glad that the measure passed. The $2.10 tax rate was sold to me as a voter because it was advantageous to match the rate of our neighbor. I was also told that it was up to the board to set an annual rate and that our current budget was $45,000. But the posted budget is at the maximum rate and includes a paid chief costing the residents $32 per hour. I suggest that we create a more reasonable budget without a paid chief and try that for a year or two and then revisit the question. Or at least consider hiring somebody very part-time. Just my two cents, I won’t be able to make the meeting.

5. mosierfire | July 7, 2010 at 2:25 am | Reply

   Thanks Scott —

   On the amount of your tax, you are correct at $168. I believe I didn’t clear my calculator before multiplying. Sorry for the error, and thanks for the correction.

   I want to point out that the on-line tax chart did indeed show the City’s full and accurate tax breakdown. You had to select a link to another page. These charts have been updated just today, not because they were faulty but because they were created with the pre-election status quo in mind, refering to the new district as a hypothetical and the old RFPD as current reality. Please tell me if you have a problem accessing the City pages.

   I respectfully disagree that our department can continue with volunteer leadership. This is a very important position with an immense responsibility and whoever does the job deserves decent compensation.

   I also respectfully disagree that this is a time to hold down costs below a level which ensures we can keep moving toward key goals. We’ve compromised for fifty years to keep fire budgets down, and we’ve come very close to disaster because of it. Moreover, I’d posit that for most people the difference between $0.90 and $1.65 is relatively affordable (for you we’re talking about $60/yr). I’ve lived and breathed the County’s tax roll for over a year now and gotten to know how this tax will affect just about everyone — it’s my business to have a clear picture. If there is no right time to raise anyone’s taxes, in the scheme of things (and keeping in mind the distribution of TAV’s shown above) a Year-One levy of around $1.40 – $1.65 is approaching affordable, for a service we can’t live without.

   As I mentioned yesterday, the current version of the proposed budget has evolved from the on-line version. We’re now looking at a chief at $36K for Year-One. This is at the bottom end of “normal” for a department of our size and call volume. This leadership position is essential for our department and, ultimately, for community safety. I have not been offered the job, and I’ve actively recruited a number of very good candidates, all of whom have declined. If the Board chooses to offer me the position, I’m ready and willing, and completely dedicated to serving this community.

   Sorry you can’t be there. I will see that your thoughts are represented.

   — Jim Appleton, Mosier Fire Chief
   541.478.3333

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