November 5, 2013 Special Election

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November 5, 2013 Special Election Main Page

Voter Pamphlets

Keizer Fire District
North Marion School District/Aurora Fire District
North Marion School District
Mt. Angel School District
Polk County Fire District

Voter Pamphlet, MP3 Audio Version

01_MarCo11513_Information & Dropsites
02_MarCo11513_24-353
03_MarCo11513_24-354
04_MarCo11513_24-355
05_MarCo11513_24-356
06_MarCo11513_27-110
07_Marco11513_Registration Info

Measures

24-353 Keizer Fire District

Extension of Current Five-Year Tax Levy with Increased Rate

Question: Shall district impose $.59 per $1,000 of assessed value for general operations for five years beginning in 2014-2015? This measure may cause property taxes to increase more than three percent.

Summary: Keizer Fire District's tax rate has not increased in ten years. This measure will renew the current expiring levy for another five years and will increase the rate of the levy from the current rate of $.35 per $1,000 of assessed value to a rate of $.59 per $1,000 of assessed value. The District will use the tax revenue from this measure to operate the District at its present level of service, to provide adequate staffing to respond to fire and medical emergencies, and pay for the costs of the District's 9-1-1 dispatch services as required by law.

The first year of this five-year levy will be fiscal year 2014-2015. The proposed rate will raise approximately $1,195,249 in 2014-2015, $1,231,106 in 2015-2016, $1,268,039 in 2016-2017, $1,306,081 in 2017-2018, and $1,345,263 in 2018-2019. The estimated tax cost for this measure is an ESTIMATE ONLY based on the best information available from the county assessor at the time of the estimate.

24-354 Aurora Fire District

Renew Current Tax Levy for Emergency Fire and Medical Services

Question: Shall ARFPD renew current emergency services levy at $.49 per 1,000 assessed value for five years beginning in FY 2015-2016?

This measure renews current local option taxes.

Summary: Aurora Rural Fire Protection District ("ARFPD") provides emergency fire and medical response services to 64 square miles in Marion and Clackamas Counties including the cities of Aurora and Donald. In 2009 the voters approved a five-year local option levy with a tax rate of $.49 per $1,000 of assessed value. Levy funds were used to continue the career staffing at the current level of four fire fighting positions and six resident student fire and life safety positions. These fire fighting positions supplement the volunteer staffing on response units during the daytime hours when many of the volunteers are at work. This helps ensure sufficient personnel arrive within initial minutes of an emergency. Levy funds are also used for supplies, equipment, and repairs. If approved this measure will renew the current levy with the same rate of $.49 for five years beginning in 2015. In addition to continuing funding for operations and personnel, the levy would pay for fire fighting and medical tools, safety equipment, and repairs.

The estimated revenues for each year of the levy are:
$323,235 in 2015-2016
$332,932 in 2016-2017
$342,920 in 2017-2018
$353,207 in 2018-2019
$363,803 in 2019-2020

24-355 North Marion School District

Four-year Local Option Levy for Operations and Capital Projects

Question: Should District impose $.74 per $1,000 of assessed value for operating and capital project purposes for four years beginning 2014-15? This measure may cause property tax to increase more than three percent.

Summary: This local option would provide operating and capital project funds for the North Marion School District for four years starting July 1, 2014 and ending June 30, 2018. The levy rate of $.74 per $1,000 of assessed value remains the same for all four years.

These funds will restore programs lost due to cuts from the state and will enhance funding for educational programs, instructional materials, technology, safety, maintenance and other operational and capital needs that may arise.

The levy raises an estimated $583,336 in Fiscal Year (FY) 2014, $595,002 in FY 2015, $606,902 in FY 2016 and $619,040 in FY 2017.

Upon passing this measure, the District would be eligible for a State Equalization Grant. This Grant would bring an estimated $309,168 more in FY 2014 with no additional taxes to district property owners. The Equalization Grant is up for renewal each biennium by the State Legislature and could fund, though this is not guaranteed, additional proceeds for each of the last three fiscal years the local option levy is in place.

24-356 Mt. Angel School District

Bonds for Safety, Security, Renovations and Improved Learning Spaces.

Question: Shall Mt Angel School District renovate, maintain and improve safety and learning by issuing $10,405,000 in general obligation bonds? If the bonds are approved, they will be payable from taxes on property or property ownership that are not subject to the limits of sections 11 and 11b, Article XI of the Oregon Constitution.

Summary: If approved, this measure would renovate school facilities to reduce operating costs and increase educational efficiencies. Specifically, this measure is expected to finance:

Renovations and improvements to district facilities including roofs, heating/ventilation, electrical, plumbing, safety and security systems, furnishings, technology and curriculum materials and equipment
Improvements to parking lot and student drop-off area at St. Mary’s Public Elementary School
Renovations to gym, bathrooms, locker rooms, parking lot, relocation of administration office, and classroom pod conversion at Mt. Angel Middle School
Improvements and seismic upgrades, cafeteria and Agriculture building repurposing, weight room relocation, restrooms and locker rooms, parking lot and other capital upgrades at John F. Kennedy High School
Site improvements, including athletic facilities improvements, demolition and bond issuance costs
Refinancing of outstanding obligations which financed deferred maintenance projects

Bonds would mature in a period not to exceed 21 years. The overall tax rate for bonds including the District’s outstanding bonds is estimated to be approximately $3.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value.

27-110 Polk County Fire District No.1

Five Year Local Option Levy for Emergency Service Operations

Question: Shall District impose $0.60 per $1,000 of assessed value for five years beginning in 2014-2015 for emergency service operations? This measure may cause property taxes to increase more than three percent.

Summary: The Polk County Fire District No.1 Board of Directors determined it needs additional funding to maintain emergency service operations. The Board found that current tax monies do not adequately fund ambulance and fire operations. The current fee for service payments from Medicare, Medicaid and other insurance has significantly decreased over the past several years. During this time, ambulance service costs have continued to increase as have requests for emergency services.

The previous levy of $0.77 expired three years ago. Since that time, the Board determined it needs additional revenue to provide the community with an adequate level of emergency response services. With revenue continuing to decrease the Board decided to ask the taxpayers whether they will fund this levy in order to maintain the current level of emergency response services.

For a home with an assessed value of $180,000 the proposed levy would result in a $108.00 increase in property taxes.

The proposed rate will raise approximately $648,324.94 in 2014-2015, $658,258.06 in 2015-2016, $668,346.43 in 2016-2017, $678,592.56 in 2017-2018 and $688,999.01 in 2018-2019. The estimated tax cost for this measure is an ESTIMATE ONLY based on the best information available from the county assessors at the time of the estimate.