More people = more emergencies
More people =
more emergencies
Bend Fire & Rescue has worked hard to be innovative and efficient to stretch capacity in order to keep response times low in the face of a massive increase in call volumes over the last decade. Call demand has gone up 5% annually between 2012 and 2022. We have more residents, and we have more visitors. Higher call volumes mean equipment wears out faster, and costs are up across the board for everything: equipment, materials, and staffing.
When the current levy expires next summer, if voters haven’t approved a new levy and no new funding is in place, Bend Fire is facing the prospect of cuts that will dramatically impact response times and our ability to protect our community. Passing the levy will allow Bend Fire & Rescue to retain staff and hire to keep up with growing demands for service.
for even more information
Visit the City of Bend’s Fire Levy page for additional detailed information around frequently asked questions.
Without new funding in place, Bend Fire and Rescue will not be able to provide anywhere close to the same level of public safety starting next summer when the current levy expires. We’re not talking about funding to add a bunch of fancy equipment or pay above market rate wages. We’re talking about passing a levy that will allow Bend Fire & Rescue to keep pace with growing demands for service that aren’t covered by current funding opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Bend Fire & Rescue asking for a new levy?
Since 2014, the call volume, or number of calls received, has increased 63% for Bend Fire & Rescue. The existing levy approved in 2019 will expire on June 30, 2024, and in May 2023, Bend Fire & Rescue will ask the voters to approve a new levy, with an increase in funding. If approved, the new levy would go into effect as soon as the existing levy expires.
The new amount requested of voters will be 76 cents per $1,000 of taxable assessed value (a 56-cent increase). The levy increase allows Bend Fire & Rescue to retain the firefighter/paramedics and services from the 2014 and 2019 levies, and it will also help expand services to keep up with the needs of the growing community.
Why does the new levy rate need to be increased?
The current levy rate has not changed since 2014. Bend Fire & Rescue is attempting to keep up with today’s call volume and expenses with a levy amount from a decade ago. Due to Oregon constitutional limitations, Bend’s permanent tax rate cannot be increased to provide for increased need for services.
Increased equipment and personnel costs have left Bend Fire & Rescue with a declining fund balance that will lead to a budget shortfall when the current levy expires in June 2024. Levy revenue is essential to continue providing fire and medical services.
Bend’s tax rate is one of the lowest in Oregon due to State Measures 5 and 50. Growth demands are outpacing revenue, and property taxes are split between several crucial core services.
How much will the new levy cost property owners? What is taxable assessed value?
The average cost for property owners in the City and Rural District will equate to about $19 per month. This amount is based on a property with a taxable assessed value of $300,000.
Taxable assessed value is the amount that the local tax authority has estimated a property owner’s structures and land to be. In Oregon, this amount is typically much lower than market value due to a cap on property tax that was put in place by State Measures 5 and 50. Deschutes County property owners can check their taxable assessed value on the Deschutes County Tax Assessor’s website, Dial – Deschutes County Property Information.
Isn’t new development in Bend contributing enough to the tax base?
Oregon State Measures 5 and 50 are really the key as to why local governments in Oregon aren’t receiving enough operating funding from property taxes, and why organizations like Bend Fire & Rescue have to ask voters to approve bonds and levies.
If you live in Bend or the surrounding area, it’s obvious that the community is experiencing growth. New homes are being built at extraordinary rates. These homes (or any homes built after Measures 5 and 50 were put in place in the 90s) do contribute to the overall tax base, but remember that due to these measures, housing is assessed at a rate much lower than market value, and the assessed value is what property taxes are based on. Bend also has one of the lowest property tax rates in the state, even compared to our neighbors in Redmond. This is because when Measures 5 and 50 were put in place, tax assessed value of properties were capped to only grow 3% each year.
So, what does this have to do with new construction? The rate for new housing is based on the assessed value of comparable houses in the area. This means that increasing market value, even of new construction, does not result in an equal increase to tax revenue, resulting in a need to seek additional operating funds from the voters in the form of levies to provide services.
For more information about assessed value of homes, including informational videos can be found at the Deschutes County Tax Assessor’s webpage: https://www.deschutes.org/assessor
What happens if the levy fails to be renewed by voters?
If the proposed levy is not passed by voters in May, Bend Fire & Rescue and the Rural District will have an opportunity to propose a levy on two consecutive ballots before the existing levy expires in June 2024. If a new levy is not passed by this time, Bend Fire & Rescue would have to reduce the level of service currently provided to the community. Reductions could be in the form of layoffs, decreasing the number of resources responding to emergency calls. The City of Bend might also be required to reprioritize its core services, which could mean impacts to Police and Transportation and Mobility staffing and services.