Multnomah Co. Online Voters' Guide
November 2006 General Election

Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue District

Measure No. 34-133

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue (TVF&R) provides emergency medical, fire suppression and prevention, and specialized rescue and HazMat services to approximately 420,000 citizens in a 210-square mile area. TVF&R serves the cities of Beaverton, Durham, King City, Rivergrove, Sherwood, Tigard, Tualatin, West Linn, and Wilsonville as well as unincorporated portions of Washington, Clackamas, and Multnomah Counties.

TVF&R has approximately 400 employees and 100 volunteers who respond to more than 31,000 emergency incidents annually.

What does this measure call for?

Voters are being asked whether TVF&R should issue $77.5 million in general obligation bonds to:

• Construct two additional fire stations;
• Purchase replacement fire engines and other emergency response apparatus;
• Purchase land for future stations;
• Rebuild five fire stations;
• Make operational and safety improvements to eight stations; and
• Relocate the command and business operations center.

If approved, bonds would be repaid over a maximum of 20 years from their issue date.

Why has TVF&R proposed these projects for funding?

• Emergency calls responded to by TVF&R increased by over 60 percent between 1995 and 2004, according to 9-1-1 data. Construction of two additional fire stations would help TVF&R meet response time goals.
• To help ensure reliable operation, TVF&R typically replaces its fire engines and other response units after 15 years or 150,000 miles of service. The bonds would pay for approximately 15 fire engines and eight additional response units over several years.
• Competition for developable land has prompted the TVF&R Board of Directors to prioritize property acquisition for future fire stations. The bonds would contribute funds for at least two future station sites.
• Five current stations are undersized and/or have safety issues that impact daily operations. Rebuilding these stations and making safety improvements to eight others would help ensure that TVF&R is able to quickly respond to emergencies, particularly after and earthquake or other major event.
• The bonds would fund relocation and consolidation of support facilities into a new command and business operations center, which would provide easier access to TVF&R's 210-square mile service area. The current command center is on the far western edge of the service area where it is part of a neighborhood and industrial area slated to eventually be annexed into the city of Hillsboro , a community not served by TVF&R.

What would the cost be to the typical homeowner?

If authorized by voters, TVF&R would issue the bonds over time to fund the identified projects. In 2007 and 2008, when fewer projects would be under construction, only a portion of the bonds would be issued and the cost would be lower.

For a typical homeowner with a $200,000 assessed value (AV)* the annual cost of the bond is estimated at $14 in 2007 and 2008, or $.07/$1000 AV. Over the 20-year repayment period, that same homeowner would see an estimated average annual payment of $29, or $.11/$1,000 AV.

* Market value is currently 40-45% higher than assessed value per county assessors.

ARGUMENT IN FAVOR

TVF&R BOARD SUPPORTS MEASURE 34-133

As the voter-elected Board of Directors for Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue (TVF&R), we are responsible for referring Measure 34-133 to the ballot.

TVF&R is your fire department and first-responder for medical emergencies. We provide services to over 420,000 citizens. Last year, 295 career firefighters and 100 volunteers responded to more than 31,000 calls – that's up 60% in the last ten years.

The citizens we serve want us to provide emergency services as economically as possible. That's true, until an emergency touches close to home; then they want TVF&R firefighters and paramedics to respond as quickly as possible and with all the necessary equipment and resources to save a life or extinguish a fire.

Balancing these competing expectations is a challenge, but we think that's what we have done with Measure 34-133. A relatively small investment on your part helps ensure that TVF&R continues to provide the kind of quality service you expect.

YES on Measure 34-133 results in:

• Building two additional fire stations so we can respond to your emergencies quickly;
• Rebuilding five fire stations to address serious operational and safety problems;
• Buying new and replacement fire engines so our fleet remains reliable;
• Buying land for future stations before prices go higher or the land is lost to development;
• Upgrading stations to ensure that they function when you will need firefighters and paramedics most – after a major earthquake or other disaster; and
• Relocating our command center to allow better access to our service area.

Of course, there is a cost to this list – an average of $29 annually for twenty years for a home with a current taxable value of $200,000. We think that's a great value, and hope you do, too.

Thank you for your continued support.

Clark Balfour, President

Robert Wyffels, Vice President

Carol Gearin, Secretary

Brian Clopton, Board Member

(This information furnished by Clark Balfour,
TVF&R Board of Directors)

ARGUMENT IN FAVOR

Help Us Help You

Last year, the firefighters and paramedics of Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue responded to over 31,000 emergency 9-1-1 calls. The men and women who responded are highly trained and well equipped, which leads me to a statement that you don't hear often enough as a taxpayer:

Thank you.

As firefighters, we know that the expectations of our communities are high, and we work to exceed them 365 days a year. Your financial support helps ensure that we have the tools and the training to get the job done. In return, should you ever need us because of a medical emergency or fire, your firefighters will respond with great expertise, professionalism, and a genuine concern for your welfare.

Measure 34-133 continues this safety partnership. If approved, it will:

• Build two new stations that are key to maintaining quick response to emergencies.

• Replace existing fire engines and trucks after they have provided quality service and before they run the risk of serious breakdown.

• Rebuild and upgrade stations in all areas of the fire district to ensure that firefighters can respond safely to your emergencies when you will need us most – after a large earthquake or other major incident.

While these projects could overwhelm a smaller community, they are achievable when the benefits and cost are shared by a growing region of more than 420,000 people. The typical cost to a homeowner would be $29 per year over the 20-year term of the bond. I hope you'll consider that a wise long-term investment.

For each of us, there is no better job and no better place to be a firefighter than serving you as part of Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue. Thank you for your support, and remember, when seconds count, you can count on your firefighters!

Rocky Hanes
President, Local 1660
Tualatin Valley Firefighters Union

(This information furnished by Rocky Hanes,
Tualatin Valley Firefighters Union)

ARGUMENT IN FAVOR

VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS SUPPORT MEASURE 34-133

As officers representing nearly 100 volunteer firefighters with Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue, we're asking for your support for Measure 34-133.

Volunteer firefighters?

That's right: TVF&R utilizes the largest group of volunteers of any fire department in Oregon.

The presence of so many volunteers says a lot about the history of TVF&R. It evolved over the past three decades as smaller city and rural fire departments – which depended heavily on volunteers – decided that joining forces would improve their service and lower their cost. Today, TVF&R serves over 420,000 residents, responds to more than 31,000 calls annually, and has the lowest tax rate of similar fire districts in the region.

Fortunately, the decision was made to retain volunteers as an important part of TVF&R. Our thousands of hours of service is a significant benefit to taxpayers. Also, because we live where we serve, we help TVF&R stay connected to the communities it serves.

One of the challenges TVF&R inherited through the merger of the smaller fire departments was an assortment of fire stations. Some were reasonably modern and others were built decades earlier and had very real structural and safety problems. Significant progress has been made, but bringing the remaining stations up to a common performance and safety standard is in the best interest of everyone served by TVF&R.

Measure 34-133 is a big step in that direction. In addition to building two new fire stations, it will rebuild five others, and correct serious operational and safety problems in eight more.

If we address these issues now, before they worsen, the typical household cost will be an affordable $29/year.

VOTE YES ON MEASURE 34-133 so that the men and women of TVF&R can respond quickly when your family needs us most.

Tualatin Volunteer Firefighters Association

Paul Spath, President

Nic Granum, Vice President

Ashley Trimble, Secretary

Brian Almquist, Volunteer

(This information furnished by Paul M. Spath,
TVF&R Volunteer Firefighters Association)