Chief of Baker Rural Fire Protection District “grateful” over tax levy passage
By Joe Hathaway on Friday, June 21st, 2024 in Featured Stories More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
BAKER — Chief Sean Lee of the Baker Rural Fire Protection District is expressing relief following the recent passage of a tax levy aimed at supporting the fire department’s operations and equipment maintenance.
“We are extremely relieved and grateful to our patrons for passing the tax levy,” Chief Lee said. “This support is vital for keeping our station operational and ensuring the safety of our firefighters.”
The newly approved tax levy, which was passed with 59% of the vote, will provide essential funds to replace expired personal protective equipment (PPE) and improve the department’s cleaning processes to reduce carcinogens, which are critical for cancer prevention among firefighters.
The levy imposes a rate of $0.93 per $1,000 of assessed property value for the next five years. For a home assessed at $200,000, this equates to an annual cost of $186. The department estimates the levy will boost the district’s budget $185,000 in 2024-2025,with amounts projected to increase, due to rising property values, to $191,00, 197,000, 203,000 and $209,000 for the four subsequent years.
“One of the significant improvements will be the purchase of an extractor and a dryer, enabling us to clean our turnout gear after every call,” Chief Lee explained. “This is not only beneficial for cancer prevention but also crucial for maintaining the functionality of our current equipment.”
Chief Lee emphasized the importance of the community’s support, expressing heartfelt gratitude to the patrons for their confidence in the department’s ability to protect and serve.
“We cannot stress enough how thankful we are for the support from our patrons,” Lee said. “Their confidence in us to say ‘yes’ and support this levy means a lot to us.”
