Dear Editor, 

Residents and property owners within the AFPD (Allenspark Fire Protection District) have always shown great support for their all-volunteer fire fighters and first responders. Now, the AFPD needs that community support even more.

Rapidly rising costs, increased demand for services, expanded regulatory requirements and the mounting threat of wildfire have all contributed to the need for increased financial resources for the AFPD to maintain current services as well as to respond to  anticipated future emergencies.  The Board of Directors of the fire district have for these reasons made the decision to ask eligible voters within the district to approve a 5.3 property tax mill levy increase in the November general election.

The AFPD first began in 1953 with a 3.0 mill levy.  Since that time the District has gone to the voters only twice for mill levy increases; once in 1983 for the construction of the main fire station #1 in Allenspark and again in 2003 to establish a fund for periodic truck replacement.

Over the ensuing 23 years the costs of firefighting, medical, and emergency response equipment and supplies have increased dramatically and outpaced increases in property tax revenues. In just the past six years the costs of personal protective equipment used by firefighters and first responders has increased by an estimated 70%, and the costs of medical supplies has increased by over 40%. The costs of emergency vehicles, and also the equipment to keep those vehicles fully operational, have increased by over 250% in the past 20 years. And of course over recent years the cost of fuel to keep emergency response vehicles on the road has increased significantly.

The AFPD’s current mill levy of 7.5 is less than 1/2 the average mill levy of surrounding Boulder County mountain fire districts.  A 5.3 mill levy increase will bring the AFPD mill levy to 12.8 mills and provide funding more in line with other neighboring mountain fire districts. 

An increase of 5.3 in the AFPD mill levy, if approved by district voters,  would increase the property tax on a $500,000 residential property by $180 per year, and by $360 per year for a $1 million dollar property.  This would be about a 5% increase in the total property tax bill, but would provide around a 70% increase in funding for the fire district.

This increase would allow the District the ability to maintain and improve current services, and to also prepare for the future by funding a full-time fire chief and key paid part-time positions. It would also provide for full-time staffing at AFPD Station #1 during critical fire danger days, with the goal of reducing response times in the event of a wildfire initiation.

The increased funding would also go for improvements in the availability of water resources throughout the fire district, a key recommendation in the recently updated Allenspark Community Wildfire Protection Plan.

The Friends of the AFPD encourage eligible AFPD voters to vote yes for this mill levy increase. Eligible voters include property owners and full-time residents (including renters) of the fire district. Folks who own property within the district but reside outside the district may also vote providing they are registered to vote in Colorado. All eligible voters should receive a general election ballot from your county clerk (Boulder or Larimer County) that includes the mill levy question, or a letter explaining how to request a ballot. Anyone who has not received a ballot by mid-October and believes they are an eligible voter in the fire district should contact the Elections Office of their appropriate County Clerk. 

The AFPD firefighters and first responders are the first line of insurance for district residents, property owners and visitors alike during a wildfire or medical emergency. They are also friends and neighbors who willingly volunteer their time to help when the community is in need.

AFPD volunteers donate approximately 400 hours each annually for emergency calls, training, maintenance, administration and community events. Please, help them to help us by voting yes on the mill levy increase in November.

Additional information and details regarding the needs for and benefits of the proposed mill levy increase can be found at afpdmilllevy.com.

 Friends of the AFPD (Allenspark Fire Protection District)