Why Response Times Matter — and Why This Levy Is Critical

When you call 911, seconds matter.

Alfalfa Fire & Rescue tracks response times for every emergency call because faster response times directly save lives and protect property.

• Fires: The sooner crews arrive, the smaller the fire stays. Smaller fires mean more property saved and less devastation for families.
• Medical emergencies: In cardiac arrest, stroke, trauma, or breathing emergencies, every minute without care decreases survival rates. Faster response means lifesaving treatment begins sooner and patients reach the hospital faster.

Right now, our ability to respond quickly is at risk.

This levy provides the funding necessary to ensure someone is always available to respond — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What Is a Local Option Levy?

A local option levy (operating levy) is a voter-approved property tax used to fund operations.

• It is based on a property's taxable assessed value — not market value.
• In Oregon, taxable assessed value is usually much lower than market value due to Measures 5 and 50.
• Voters within the Alfalfa Fire District must approve it.
• It can last up to five years and must then be renewed by voters.

This levy would fund:

• Firefighter/EMT staffing
• Equipment and protective gear
• Essential training
• 24/7 emergency coverage

What Will This Levy Cost?

The proposed levy rate is $1.75 per $1,000 of taxable assessed value.

For example:

• $250,000 assessed value = about $36.45 per month
• $300,000 assessed value = about $43.75 per month
• $500,000 assessed value = about $72.91 per month

Most properties in our district are assessed at $500,000 or less, with many at $300,000 or below.

Property owners can check their assessed value on the Deschutes County Tax Assessor’s website (Dial – Deschutes County Property Information).

What Will the Funding Pay For?

If approved, the levy will allow:

1. 24/7 Staffing

Currently:

• 1 Part-Time Fire Chief (20 hrs/week)
• 1 Full-Time Firefighter/EMT (grant funded, expires June 30, 2026)

When the grant expires, staffing would drop back to one part-time person working limited hours.

With levy funding:

• Two additional full-time Firefighter/EMTs
• Rotating shift coverage
• Reliable 24-hour staffing
• Reduced reliance on mutual aid

2. Emergency Medical Response

The levy would support a Basic Life Support (BLS) staffing model, allowing:

• Faster response to non-emergent calls
• Reduced wait times for mutual aid (currently up to 30 minutes in some cases)
• Staffing for the district’s BLS ambulance
• Quicker transport to St. Charles Medical Center

3. Equipment & Training

• PPE and uniforms
• Medical supplies
• Ongoing certifications and training

What Happens If the Levy Fails?

If the levy does not pass:

• The full-time position expires June 30, 2026.
• Staffing reduces to one part-time person (8 a.m.–12 p.m., Monday–Friday).
• Nights and weekends rely solely on volunteers.
• Structure fires and major accidents may wait 25+ minutes for mutual aid from Bend.

NFPA standards require:

• 12–15 firefighters for a structure fire
• 3–7 responders for cardiac arrests or serious accidents

Operating with one person is unsafe, unsustainable, and risks burnout.

Without additional funding, the district could eventually:

• Reduce service hours dramatically
• Or potentially shut its doors

That would return the community to being effectively unprotected.

Why Not Just Use Volunteers?

Volunteer numbers are declining statewide and nationally.

Challenges include:

• Rising cost of living
• Time required for certifications
• Family and work obligations
• Burnout

Over the past 11 years, volunteers have saved this district an estimated $5.4 million in labor value. They remain vital — and will continue to serve — but volunteers alone can no longer guarantee reliable 24/7 coverage.

This levy ensures someone is always available when you call.

Why Not Apply for More Grants?

Federal grants:

• Are highly competitive
• Require matching funds
• Increase required match amounts annually
• Cost roughly $100,000 per firefighter per year when fully burdened

For two positions, required matching funds would exceed:

• $50,000 annually in early years
• $130,000 in year three

This is not sustainable without stable local funding.

Currently, there are no state-level firefighter hiring grants available.

Why Are We Asking for More Money Now?

When the district was formed 13 years ago, the plan was to operate without increasing taxes.

But today:

• Costs for fuel, utilities, and maintenance have risen
• Insurance and workers’ compensation costs have increased
• Volunteers are aging out or stepping away
• Call volumes are increasing

Without a revenue increase, maintaining current service levels is no longer possible.

This is not about expanding services — it is about preserving them.

This Is About Protecting Our Community

The volunteers and staff of Alfalfa Fire & Rescue are your neighbors.

They live here.
They pay these taxes too.
They understand money is tight.

After careful consideration, every volunteer agrees:

The cost of maintaining reliable emergency service is far less than the cost of losing it.

This levy ensures:

• Faster response times
• 24/7 emergency coverage
• Safer operations
• Protection for lives and property
• Long-term sustainability for the district