Fire District No. 3 asks for approval on levy

QUINCY — Grant County Fire District No. 3 asks voters to approve the Emergency Medical Services Property Tax Levy (Proposition 1) on the ballot Feb. 6.

Funding from the levy goes toward expenses incurred by the department for medical services, to update equipment and improve service, Fire Chief Don Fortier said.

"This is not a new tax," Fortier said. "It is a renewal of an existing tax."

For the past 20 years the levy provided the department with needed funding. It is renewed every six years. If passed again, the department is provided funding until 2012.

Twenty-five cents per $1,000 assessed value of property is provided to the department by the levy, he said.

The department covers an area of 503 miles, one of the largest coverage areas in the state, he said. More than 15,000 people are served in areas including the Quincy Valley, Winchester, Sunland Estates, Low Gap and George. With the larger businesses moving into the Quincy area, he feels the population might grow. This is a population the department would continue to serve.

If the levy does not pass, the department loses approximately $120,000 in funding. This can lead to a cutback in services, according to Fortier.

In 2006, the department had 488 calls. Of those calls, 188 were emergency medical service calls, he said.

The by-mail-only ballot was mailed Friday and must be postmarked by Feb. 6 to be counted in the election.

"We feel it's really a good thing for the community," Fortier said.