Clackamas Fire District – Proposed Emergency Services Levy

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Levy Overview                                                

The Clackamas Fire District Board of Directors has referred a levy to the May 2023 ballot. If passed, the Emergency Services Levy would provide annual funding of $14.5 million at a cost of $0.52 per thousand of assessed valuation* which is about $138 per year for the typical homeowner at the median assessed value.

If passed, levy funds would invest in additional staffing, quick response vehicles, and wildfire mitigation efforts. If the levy does not pass, funds would not be invested.

Clackamas Fire District 1 is one of the largest and busiest emergency response agencies in the Portland Metro Area, serving more than 220,000 residents across 235 square miles. Clackamas Fire responds to approximately 30,000 calls each year. However, unlike other large fire agencies in Oregon, Clackamas Fire does not have an enhanced levy to fund firefighter positions and equipment needs. This funding gap has led to staffing challenges, including an inability to maintain coverage at several rural fire stations.

*Please note that ‘Assessed’ value is different from ‘Market’ value. For example: Redfin may publish the average ‘Market’ value of a home in Clackamas County at $560,000, while the averaged ‘Assessed’ value of a home in the District is $265,000. Reference your tax statement or Clackamas County ( http://ascendweb.clackamas.us/ ) for the actual assessed value of your home. Want to calculate the cost for your home? Multiply the assessed value from your tax statement by 0.00052 (ex. $265,000 x 0.00052 = $137.80).  

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An open letter from Clackamas Fire District Chief Nick Browne 

Dear Community Member:

As your Fire Chief, I lead the second largest fire protection district in Oregon. Clackamas Fire District covers 235 square miles, serves 220,000 Oregonians, and responds to nearly 30,000 annual calls. As an independent, special district, we operate separately and independently from Clackamas County and the State of Oregon. As it stands, our permanent tax rate simply cannot keep up with the increased and diversified needs of our communities. This funding gap has led to persistent staffing challenges including the inability to maintain coverage at several rural fire stations.

Clackamas Fire District is referring a local option levy entitled: Emergency Services Levy to the May 2023 ballot. Unlike other large fire agencies in the Portland Metro area, Clackamas Fire District does not have an enhanced levy to fund firefighter positions and equipment needs. This process has not been taken lightly. The Fire District formed a group of stakeholders into what we called our Future Funding Taskforce. This group has prioritized three critical areas in need of funding in relation to an operational levy: (1) staffing, (2) alternative response, and (3) wildfire response.

1. Staffing: Clackamas Fire District crews are understaffed. A levy would fund 62 full-time firefighters, which would allow for additional staffing in most fire stations. This would bring Clackamas Fire District in alignment with national standards and best practices, which call for each apparatus to be staffed with four firefighters. An enhanced levy would also enable 24/7 career staffing at Logan and Clarkes Fire Stations, two of our rural stations that are on the front line of our fight against wildfires. Providing 24/7 staffing at these stations would significantly enhance emergency response effectiveness and place firefighters and equipment closer to areas with significant wildfire risk.
2. Alternative Response: Right now, our fire engines currently must respond to calls that are of less severe, non-fire related. This puts unnecessary stress and increases costs on the system. We want to invest in an alternative response model (smaller and more efficient vehicles) for these less severe calls to better serve the community. In other words, we want to send the right resource to the right call.
3. Wildfires: In 2020, over a 72-hour period, Clackamas Fire District responded to 144 working fires, and 24 greater alarm fires. Since 2020, wildfire risk within District boundaries has only increased.  We have carefully considered all options to best support our work on the front lines of wildfires, and believe that levy funding will significantly aid in our efforts:

• • 24/7 staffing at rural stations would significantly enhance emergency response effectiveness across a wide territory.
  • Strategic placement of firefighters and equipment closer to areas with significant wildfire risk.
  • Support wildfire mitigation, prevention and response.

Clackamas Fire District strives to fulfill our purpose, mission and vision to you, the citizens we have sworn to protect.

We are forever grateful for your support and the opportunity we have to better serve you.

Thank you.

Chief Nick Browne

Previous Presentations                               

Consider viewing past levy presentations:

• 11/16/2022 Station 7 Pleasant Valley Link:  https://youtu.be/Dx_8D3Tru6M 
• 11/9/2022 Station 10 Beavercreek Link:   https://youtu.be/cHz8VoYD74Y