Property Tax Funding: The Foundation of Local Fire Protection

Property tax revenue provides the essential funding mechanism for fire protection services in our community. Unlike fee-based or enterprise services, fire protection is a collective benefit that relies on shared community investment. Each property owner contributes a portion of their property taxes to ensure comprehensive fire protection for all residents.

This base funding model is critical because fire protection cannot operate effectively on a fee-for-service basis. The service must be readily available 24/7, fully staffed and equipped to respond to any emergency, regardless of location or circumstance. The Martis Valley situation demonstrates why this matters: despite generating well over $100 million in property tax revenue from $4 billion in development, inadequate funding allocation has left essential fire protection services underfunded.

When property tax funding is diverted or inadequately allocated, it not only compromises service quality but also threatens local control over these essential emergency services.

By maintaining strong local funding through property taxes, we ensure our fire protection services remain responsive to community needs and accountable to local residents. This system of collective investment reflects our shared commitment to community safety and the principle that fire protection benefits everyone, whether they need to call upon the service directly or not.