Holland: With the increase in, uh, people coming to live here, um, the tourists that come through, um, it's just a huge growing demand on the fire district for response. Our call volume has gone up 65% since 2020. And I think a lot of people don't realize that we are EMS as well.
Lemmer: So it is not just fire protection then, right? It's all emergency services that anybody may need?
Holland: Yep, exactly, and even we go as far as, uh, swift-water rescue, and then we go even further into CPR classes and public outreach. And really a hot topic, which I think everybody is aware of, is fire mitigation. The department is collaborating with a lot of great agencies to bring mitigation to the valley. The chief likes to say that, you know, you can't put enough water on some fires to put it out, but if you can slow it and make defensible space, that's a really great way to stop it, and really, you know, not have it be a devastating fire like we're seeing out in California.
Lemmer: Now I'm sure people that live in the Carbondale Rural Fire Protection District know that they're in that district, but for people that maybe aren't sure, it covers more than just the town of Carbondale.
Holland: Right. It's pretty big. It's 300 square miles. So we go all the way to Thunder River Market. We have a station out there, Station 84. We go to the Eagle County line near El Jebel, and then we go all the way to Marble and to the top of McClure, and sometimes we even respond over the pass.
Lemmer: So a ballot 7D, Ballot Measure 7D, that's the 1.5% sales tax increase. What would that go towards?
Holland: Yes. So since our district is so big and our call volume is so high, we need more responders. We're looking at six additional firefighter EMTs or paramedics that would really really help us. We need more response up the Crystal Valley. Those are not staffed right now. So we would need to expand. That's one of our biggest things. We would also be kind of closing the gap on our funding. It is a different revenue stream for us. Fire departments usually solely rely on property taxes for our fundings. But with House Bill 24B 1001, that was, that was kind of what has capped us for fire districts all across the state. It's not just Carbondale Fire, and it's helping us replenish our reserves that we've had to use because we've lost a million dollar year over year since this bill passed. But what it will be additionally, what it'll be used for, is training. We're partnering with CMC and the high school, and we really like to, partner with the wildfire collaborative. So lots of good things.
Lemmer: And it seems like a lot of times in the past these type of measures have been more of a property tax increase, right.. .compared to a sales tax? Is there a benefit going with sales tax increase as opposed to property tax?
Holland: Yes, it's huge. It spreads the load to you know, people who are not property owners, and to all the tourists that come through, all the people that come up here to work. It really... those people use our services as well when they're in the district. I mean, all of the car wrecks out on 82 for people commuting through, we're responding to all that, so it spreads that load. The tax will not be on essentials. So groceries, fuel, essential home items, baby products. We and the state, and I think everybody understands, and is already feeling the burn, right? When you go to the grocery store and you're like, 'oh, ouch.' So it's not going to affect those things. And really, so if you think about it, 1.5%, if you spend $10, that would be an additional 15 cents. So that's what we're looking for there.
Lemmer: Megan Holland with Citizens for a Safe Community. Joining us here today talking about
Ballot Measures 7D and 7E coming up on the ballot for members of, or residents of the Carbondale and Rural Fire Protection District. Thank you again, Megan. Have a great day.
Holland: Thank you, you too.
