Fire Assessment

I’m advocating for a balanced, fair approach.

I want to provide some background on the fire assessment. Although we call it an assessment, it is a tax. The reason for its implementation is the Live Local Act (SB 102), a state law that prevents cities from collecting property taxes from nonprofits. This includes large-scale workforce housing projects, churches, and other nonprofit-owned buildings, which account for many of our properties here. 

While these organizations don’t pay property taxes, they still receive services like fire protection. If their building catches on fire, they call the fire department, but they don’t contribute to the cost; other citizens pay for their free services.

Now, let me say this: I hate taxes. We all pay way too much at every level of govt. I know how stressful taxes are as a citizen—and a business owner. Time and again, I see that it’s easier to raise revenue through taxes than to look within for efficiencies. Whether running a restaurant or a city, there’s always room to ask: Can we reduce costs? Can we optimize labor or cut down on waste? I believe the city needs to ask these questions more often because that’s how a business stays in business.

I dislike the fire assessment & all taxes.

• But I support the idea of paying for the services you use. 

• I will strongly advocate for the city to examine its spending and find ways to reduce costs. 

I will work to remove or lower the fire assessment or keep the fire assessment but lower the millage rate to balance the overall tax burden on citizens. 

Less spending, less taxation.