NEWS ABOUT SAN JUAN COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT NO. 3
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Drastic cuts in fire district service
predicted if I-722 passes
Two budgets were prepared for San Juan County Fire District No. 3. One assumes passage of Initiative 722, the other does not. The difference between the budgets is $220,203.
Fire District Chief Bill McLaughlin presented the proposed budgets to the fire district board at a workshop Oct. 11, 2000.
If 1-722 passes proposed cuts include elimination of a water tender. Water tenders are used to deliver water to fires where there are no hydrants. Cuts in daytime staffing and planned maintenance to the existing fire engines are also included.
"The real problems begin in a few years, when we will need to replace all of the fire engines bought during the 1980s," said Chief McLaughlin. "If we can't raise the funds needed to replace the engines, we will have to eliminate fire stations." "Unfortunately, the residents will be the losers if the initiative passes,", said Chief McLaughlin. ."The tax savings will be offset by rising fire insurance costs."
The Fire District had recently begun a project to lower insurance costs by upgrading the department's fire stations and apparatus. "Without the water tender, we can't get a better rating," said McLaughlin.
Lower insurance rates are provided to homeowners who live within 1000 feet of a fire hydrant. Those rates are extended to homeowners in rural areas if the fire department can deliver sufficient water using water tenders.
