Philomath Fire and Rescue officials say a five-year local operating levy on the May 19 ballot is essential to maintaining current staffing and service levels as call volumes climb and operational costs continue to rise.
Measure 2-155 would authorize the district to levy 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed value beginning in the 2027-28 fiscal year and running through 2031-32. The proposed rate matches an existing bond for buildings and emergency response vehicles that expires in June 2027, meaning the levy would replace rather than add to the current tax rate.
For a homeowner with property assessed at $300,000, the annual cost would be $150, or about $12.50 per month, according to Fire Chief Chancy Ferguson.
If approved, the levy would generate approximately $566,292 in its first year, growing to an estimated $637,367 by 2031-32 — a projected five-year total of roughly $3 million.
The district is currently operating with a budget shortfall, Ferguson said, having to cut operations and dip into savings this year. Personnel costs make up 86% of the district’s budget, leaving limited room for other expenses.
Emergency calls have increased 33% over the past five years. The district responded to more than 1,130 calls last year — an average of about 3.1 emergencies per day — with 81% of those being medical in nature.
Board President Rick Brand said the district’s funding model is still built on a budget base established in 1985, when Philomath Fire responded to about 300 incidents annually, mostly fires, with 41 volunteer firefighters. Today, the district provides daily around-the-clock service with nine paid responders and 19 volunteers across a 62-square-mile coverage area.
“While the tax base has expanded, it has not kept pace with inflation and rising costs for supplies, wages and benefits,” Brand said.
According to Ferguson, the levy would pay for personnel costs, which a community survey identified as the district’s most critical resource. The funds would help maintain current staffing levels and continue providing advanced life support around the clock.
The district added three Advanced Life Support responders to its crew in 2023 to ensure 24/7 coverage as call volumes climbed.
Each day, the district maintains staffing of two paid firefighters and at least one resident volunteer firefighter, along with a duty officer. Last year, the average time from dispatch to response was 1 minute and 21 seconds, with an average arrival time of 6 minutes across the district.
“Response times are critical to a successful outcome,” Ferguson said. “During emergencies seconds count. All the equipment in the world cannot replace well-trained responders who have the ability and fortitude to overcome a dynamic and chaotic emergency scene.”
Andrew Licon, president of Local 4925, said maintaining current staffing is the most immediate need from the firefighters’ standpoint.
“While the resident volunteer program is valuable, it can experience high turnover since many participants are college-aged, and experience levels can vary significantly,” Licon said. “Maintaining consistent, experienced staffing is critical to providing reliable service.”
Licon noted that the majority of calls are medical emergencies, often involving high-stress, life-threatening situations.
“We are the first to arrive and begin care, which means we are stepping into people’s worst moments,” he said. “These calls are emotionally demanding, and while we are trained to respond professionally, the cumulative stress can take a toll on responders’ mental and physical health.”
Ferguson said failure of the levy would require laying off two to three emergency responders, significantly affecting the district’s ability to deliver emergency services, including advanced life support.
Licon said a reduction in force could mean staffing drops to one firefighter per shift — or potentially none — depending on how cuts are implemented. Ambulance transport for medical emergencies is provided by the city of Corvallis, which has a response time of approximately 8 to 15 minutes to the Philomath area.
“Without adequate local staffing, that delay becomes even more critical, and it could significantly impact patient outcomes in serious situations,” Licon said.
Brand said if the levy fails, the district would continue pursuing alternative funding sources and may return to voters with a revised proposal in a future election, though neither option is a strong substitute for stable operating revenue.
Brand said the board has been planning for a levy for several years in anticipation of current financial pressures. The board waited to place it on the ballot until the existing general obligation bond was closer to expiring to reduce the overall tax burden on residents, he added.
Most grant funding is intended for capital purchases or specific projects, not ongoing staffing, Brand said. The district has secured some grants that help the overall budget, but personnel-related grants typically fund temporary or short-term positions.
“They don’t provide the stable, long-term funding needed to support the full-time employees required for day-to-day operations,” Brand said.
Levy funds must be used for the purposes stated on the ballot. Oversight is provided by the five-member elected volunteer board, which serves as the district’s budget authority. Citizen volunteers serve on the budget committee, and the public has access to monthly board meetings. Budget documents are posted online in advance of review and approval.
Ballots for the May 19 election were scheduled to arrive in mailboxes beginning this week.
