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Fire Annexation on Ballot for City Voters |
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When Milwaukie voters declined to annex to Clackamas Fire District No.1(CFD1) last November, the City's leadership took it to mean many residents were afraid annexation might result in higher taxes.
Hearing that message, City Council is giving annexation another go, but this time are making it a part of the ballot measure itself that should annexation pass, residents' property rates will be reduced in order to compensate for the tax the Fire District would begin assessing. Stated another way, if annexation were to pass, Milwaukie taxpayers would not be paying anymore than they are today. The only way taxes would increase, as will be stated on the ballot, is if voters pass an increase.
The City, which has been contracting with CFD1 for the past seven years, is looking to stabilize its fire suppression and medical emergency services through annexation.
Furthermore, annexation would allow City residents to vote in CFD1 elections for Board members and would also allow City residents to vote on CFD1 money measures such as serial levies and bond measures. If the annexation is approved, City residents would be eligible to run for and serve on the CFD1 Board.
If passed, property within the City would be subject to CFD1's property tax, which is 2.4012 per $1,000 of assessed value. But as stated before, if passed the measure requires the City to reduce its tax rate in the same amount to ensure the tax is neutral.