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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-03-13 - Voters Pamphlet voter P mphlet Oregon Vote-by-Mail Special Election I March 13, 2007 This Voters' Pamphlet is provided to give the voter additional information on this measure. The text of the statements are printed as submitted. INDEX VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION MEASURE To be eligible to vote in the March 13,2007 Special Election, 9-51 La Pine Fire District Four-Year Emergency Response a completed voter registration card must be postmarked Personnel Local Option Levy.................................2 by February 20, 2007. DROP SITES To register to vote in Oregon,you must be: Deschutes Service Center 1. A resident of Oregon. 1300 NW Wall St 2. A United States citizen. Box located on Parkway side of building 3. At least 18 years old by election day. Available 7 days a week You must update your registration if: Election Day, March 13: open until 8 pm 1. Your residence or mailing address changes. (Privacy Booths Provided Inside Office) 2. Your name changes. La Pine 3. You wish to change your party affiliation. Drive-By Drop Site Important Note: La Pine Public Library If you have moved or your name has changed and you 16425 First St have not yet updated your registration,you are still eligible 1st St&Huntington Rd to vote. Contact the Deschutes County Elections office, Friday&Monday, Mar 9&12: 8 am-6 pm 541-388-6547 for further information. Election Day,Tuesday, Mar 13: 8 am-8 pm Voters With Disabilities: If you are unable to vote your ballot without assistance Replacement Ballot: because of a physical disability or because you are unable You can request a replacement ballot if you make a to read or write, contact the Deschutes County Elections mistake,your ballot is damaged or spoiled,your ballot office at 541-388-6547.We will provide two persons to as- is lost,or for any other reason.Contact the Deschutes sist you in voting.To assure your voted ballot is received by County Elections office at 541-388-6547 to request a election day, contact the elections office early to arrange replacement ballot. for assistance.You may also select someone else of your own choice to assist you. Reminder: A cassette edition of the Voters' Pamphlet is available Your ballot. will not be counted if your for those who cannot read standard print due to a visual envelope is not signed!All ballots must be received or physical disability. To order a cassette of the Voters' no later than 8 pm on March 13. Postmarks do not Pamphlet, please contact Independent Living Resources count. at 503-232-7411 or TTY 503-232-8408. Deschutes County Election Results Election results are available after 8 pm on March 13 from the County Elections office or on the internet at www. deschutes.org. The results will be updated throughout the night. Measure 9-51 Deschutes County Ballot Title Explanatory Statement, 9051 The La Pine Rural Fire Protection District received a four year levy in 1998 to fund new paramedictfire fighter positions.That levy expired in FOUR-'YEAR EMERGENCY RESPONSE PERSONNEL LOCAL 2003,and a new levy was,passed that will expire this June 30th. OPTION LEVY The La Pine Rural Fire Protection District has been working to keep up QUESTION: Shall La Pine Fire District levy$1.00,per$1,000 as- with the growth in southern Deschutes and northern Klamath Counties, sassed value for four years to improve emergency response beginning The Fire District has eliminated two chief level positions and has added 2007/08?This measure may cause property taxes to increase more two paramedictfirefighter positions and a fire inspector.This has been than three percent. accomplished without a tax rate increase or a new local option levy. SUMMARY:This measure may be passed only at an election with at The Fire District cannot make additional administrative cuts to fund least a 50 percent voter turnout. new;paramedic%firefighters. _ If approved,this measure would provide funds for four years to the La Since 1998,the population of the Fire District has grown from approxi-, Pine Rural Fire Protection District to: mate!Iy 1000 to over 21,000 today,an increase of 17%.The number • Fund continued employment of three paramedic/ire fighters; of emergency responses has grown.:yalmost 601%in this same time and period,from 1,264 in 1999 to 21015 irr 2006,This Fire District responds • Fund nine additional,paramedic/fire fighters, on many concurrent alarms(2 or more alarms at the same time)on Without this staffing,the Fire District's response capabilities to emer- a regular basis with minimal staffing.In 2006,892 alarms(45%of all gency incidents will be at risk.The agency is experiencing increased alarms)were concurrent alarms.Every day,the Fire District is forced call volume every year and growth'In our region is exceeding the Fire to leave stations un-staffed.The Fire District attempts to call person- District's capabilities.The funds will.be used to increase our emergency nel In on overtime and/or utilize other emergency,service providers to staffing capabilities that enhance safety and operational efficiency on respond.In the event of a fire or major accident,any delay may lead emergency scenes. to disaster.If the local option levy is not increased,the Fire District For the past four years,voters paid'$.64 per$1,000.That levy expires faces,a greater risk in emergency response situations. June 30,2007.This levy would expire in four years and cause'a new levy of$1.00/$1,000. The owner of a home assessed at$150,000 Often fire engines arrive at fires with minimal staffing,resulting in ex- is estimated to pay$1501year for four years. Estimated taxes to be tremely hazardous working environments for both career andvolunteer received are$910,000 in 2007/06;$954,981 in 2008/09;$1,002,730 firefighters.Individual firefighters may be doing the work when two or in 2049/10;and$1,052,866 in 2010/11.The estimated tax cost for three are needed. this measure is an ESTIMATE ONLY based on the best information The Local Option Tax will fund the continued employment of three available from the county assessor at the time of estimate. paramedic/firefighters and the hiring of nine additional paramedic/fire- fighters.With thisstafFing,the Fire District can man all three stations. Argument in Favor Delays in arriving at alarms will be minimized.Fire District employees and volunteers can world within nationally recognized safety guide The La Pine Fire District currently provides emergency medical ser- lines,insuring a'safe environment in a dangerous profession.',More vices to an area over 1000 square miles plus firefighting and rescue importantly, the community can enjoy a level of protection that is services over a 100 square mile area. This area extends from the responsive to its needs. Sunriver Business Park down several miles into Klamath County. (This information'furnished!by James B.Gustafson,La Pine Rural Fire Our community has reached a critical point where our Fire District's staffing Protection District.) must be increased and response times reduced.If a measure is not passed to continue funding Paramedic/Firefighting personnel,your services will dramatically decrease! Currently, response times to emergencies are often delayed up to and Argument in Favor beyond fifteen minutes due to lack of personnel. The Citizens for Emergency Medical Services and Fire Protection MEMBERS OF THE FIRE DISTRICT BELIEVE THAT YOU AND YOUR Political Action Committee believe that the La Pine Fire District is fac- LOVED ONES EXPECT AND DESERVE BETTER! ing some very serious issues that will keep the District from providing PLEASE VOTE YES TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THESE MOST emergency medical and fire protection services to area citizens.Without ESSENTIAL SERVICES! passage of measure 9-51,we are risking loss of emergency medical and fire services. To be successful, at least 50%of registered voters must cast bal- We all know that the population in south Deschutes and north Klamath lots. County is growing.There have been more and more calls to the Fire District PLEASE, ENCOURAGE YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO VOTE for help.(During the recent windstorm on December 14,the Department TOO! was unable to answer the 23 calls received within three hours. There These services are normally provided by just two crews per day, were so many emergencies,and so few staff,many of us had to wait for each with only two Paramedic/Firefighters per crew. One crew is help for extended periods of time while they prioritized the many calls for stationed near Sunriver and the other in downtown LaPine.This means that assistance). only one ambulance or one fire truck per station can be staffed at a time. In 2005 there was a 6% increase in calls and another 7% increase in Following one emergency,only one crew is available for a second 2006.We have a high percentage of seniors in our District who need the emergency,sometimes at the opposite end of the district. Two simultane- security of emergency medical attention.Medical calls constitute a huge ous emergencies leave no crews available. Some emergencies,like portion of all Fire Department/EMS calls and we all need to know that we fires and vehicle accidents,require two or more crews at once.Medical can get help when we need it,whether it is for wildfires,household fires transports require a crew's attention for two to three hours. Personnel or medical services. are then asked to respond from home to staff stations. In the meantime, Lets rotect ourselves with a strong, department that can crews from Sunriver, Crescent or Bend cover emergencies. This p p means that if you have an emergency while another one,or more,are in handle increased needs with the additional revenue needed to fund their expenses.The District has determined that they will need a small increase progress,your emergency waits.This also means that for fire emergen- ties,there are a limited number of firefighters available to respond. This in funding of$.36,raising the homeowner's bill to over $1000,00 of as limits their ability to perform critical roles and jeopardizes the safety of both sassed value.This will cover the costs of services over the next 4 years.o e the victim(s)and the firefighter(s). a very small price to pay for the security and safety we will get.Please vote YES on Measure 9-51 to meet the needs of our growing community. (This information furnished by Fred R.Franklin,Lieutenant,La Pine Professional Firefighter Association,La Pine Volunteer Firefighter (This information furnished by Teri Myers,FIRE-PAC Secretary,Citizens for Association,Citizens for EMS and Fire Protection Services PAC.) Emergency Medical Services and Fire Protection Action Committee.) The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by the The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by the County of Deschutes,nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any County of Deschutes,nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statement made in the argument. statement made in the argument.