Seeking Two Proposition Approvals

The Canton R-V Fire Protection District has two items on the April 2 ballot.

Proposition FIRE A is asking the voters of the District to approve the sale of $320,000.00 in bonds to be used to upgrade fire apparatus at the Canton, Monticello, and Williamstown stations. These funds will be used to purchase an upgraded Rescue/ Pumper, a Tanker, and a Brush Truck. If approved the district plans to purchase quality used equipment to replace the aging fleet that is now in service.

These funds will not be used to purchase New Apparatus. We will search out the highest quality used equipment available to replace pieces of our aging fleet. The district is currently working with trucks that are all 20 to 33 years old and upgrades are needed to continue to provide quality service to the district.

Board treasurer Jeff McReynolds said, “Passing this Proposition would extend the life of our existing Bond Issue and the current debt service tax would remain unchanged and not increase the tax rate.”

Proposition FIRE B is asking the voters of the District to ADD an addition tax of $0.0629 per one hundred dollars assessed valuation to our existing General Revenue tax. This increase would raise the tax to the current BASE RATE (of $0.30 per hundred dollars assessed) for Fire Protection Districts.

Due to the MO Hancock amendment our district has remained the same or rolled back its general revenue tax in 9 of the past 10 years. In 2008 in Districts total tax rate was $0.4536 per hundred and this year’s rate was set at $0.3089 (a drop of 1/3).

McReynolds said, “The district’s revenues are capped at a three percent increase, which is not a tax increase, each year. Over the past ten years our expenses have increase at a faster rate than our revenues. Therefore, as we prepare our budget each year we are forced to keep up with the rising costs of insurance, utilities, maintenance costs and overhead items and forced to reduce the amounts that are available for firefighter training and personal protective equipment, which is the most important items for the safety of our firefighters. Also 70 percent SCBA’s (Air packs) that our firefighters use will reach their 15-year expiration date this fall.”

Approval of Proposition B will allow funds to be used to supplement the budget of the district to provide adequate training and equipment to support the efforts of our firefighters.

The R-V Fire District is seeking the continued support from voters to approve these measures.