If approved by the voters, Mountain View Fire & Rescue will be authorized to collect a Maintenance and Operations levy in the sum of $965,000 per year for a temporary four-year period. The District estimates that the associated tax levy rate each year will be approximately $0.30 per $1,000 of assessed property valuation. This excess levy will be in addition to the District’s regular tax levy.
Call volumes increased almost six percent last year. The District is limited to a one percent revenue increase by state law, and it’s not keeping up with the demand for service. More calls mean added wear and tear on emergency equipment. Certain emergency apparatus needs to be replaced before becoming unreliable. Some fire stations also require major repairs and maintenance to extend their usable lives.
These capital items are too expensive to fund through the District’s daily operating levy without cutting emergency service levels. This M&O levy will allow the District to pay cash for these purchases thereby avoiding interest charges. The District also anticipates a portion of the M&O levy will help cover unanticipated costs associated with COVID-19, such as personal protective gear for firefighters and medical equipment.
The M&O levy would cost the owner of a $384,000 home (an average for the area) approximately $9.60 a month. The levy would expire in four years, while the capital items will last for 15-30 years. More information on the M&O levy can be found on the Fire District’s website at www.mvfire.org.
