Not Annexed Into GRFD? Want To Save Money?

Our two subsequent postings have to do with the cost of Golder Ranch Fire District service, especially for those of us in Oro Valley not yet annexed.

If you are in that category, and believe the bill you receive from Rural Metro (on behalf of GRFD)--- is too high, we might be able to suggest how it can be lowered.

If you have any interest, email us at art@letorovalleyexcel.com

It might be like chicken soup for a cold----- it couldn't hurt.

If you haven't read the other two postings, it might be worth your time to do so.

Phil Richardson Attempts To Educate Us On The Cost Of Fire Service In Oro Valley

The following is a message our friend Phil Richardson has sent out to over 1200 of his neighbors in the southern portion of Oro Valley. These are the folks that have not yet been annexed into the Golder Ranch Fire District, and are contiguous with the newly formed Mountain Vista Fire District.

Even if you are not directly impacted with the issue of fire service, I think you'll find the information gleaned by Phil, to be not only very interesting, but very informative.

Please take a few minutes to read Phil's message.
Art
*******************************************************************************************

Dear Neighbors:

We need to petition the Oro Valley Town Council to permit the newly merged Mountain Vista Fire District to at least approach us regarding annexation.

The time is ripe to do something about the cost of Fire Protection before we are annexed into the Golder Ranch Fire District - headquartered in Catalina.

A prior Oro Valley Town Council gave a monopoly to Golder Ranch Fire District to annex neighborhoods into their Catalina-based Fire District. Then, the prior Council began a campaign to force Rural Metro Corp out of Oro Valley and replace their fire stations with ones directed by Golder Ranch Fire District. So far, Golder Ranch FD has already taken over the north side Palisades/1^st Ave Station and the area near Lambert and La Canada where four years ago Rural Metro was refused a building permit for a fire Station.

Here’s the reason your bill from Rural Metro Corporation sky-rocketed two years ago: In order to salvage ambulance service in Oro Valley for their subsidiary, (Southwest Ambulance service), Rural Metro Corp agreed to raise their rates to match the higher Golder Ranch Fire District’s secondary Property Tax Rate. Furthermore, Rural Metro agreed that no later than April 2010 they will cease providing fire protection in Oro Valley. This could happen sooner, for Golder Ranch FD seeks to accelerate the process, and begin the takeover –usually one neighborhood at time, sooner. They are nibbling their way south now – soliciting signatures in the La Reserve Area.

Golder Ranch Fire District will not take over the Rural Metro Fire Station on Magee Road near North Oracle – due they say to the fact it is a leased property. Instead, they intend to serve us from a station they are reported to want to build on Linda Vista – after they’ve annexed us.

When Fire Districts Compete, Property Owners Win. Until now, we had no other choice. Now, there’s a newly consolidated Fire District that is contiguous to Oro Valley. Mountain Vista Fire District covers most of the area that lies south and west of Lambert Lane all the way west to Thornydale and then south to Ina Road. It is contiguous to the Suffolk Hills neighborhood and has an agreement that Rural Metro will continue to provide fire fighters and equipment from their Station on Magee Road near Oracle Road until Mountain Vista Fire District can establish their own stations. They’ve the same Fire Suppression Rating as Golder Ranch Fire District has from the company that rates Fire Departments for Insurance Companies.

Here’s the problem: By State Law, in order to solicit our signatures, Mountain Vista first must get permission from Oro Valley in order to do so.

Compare Cost. Despite a recent plunge in their tax rate, done we believe for marketing purposes, Golder Ranch is estimating their secondary property tax rate to be $1.59, with another $0.17 tacked-on for bonding (loan) repayment or $1.76 per $100 of assessed valuation. Compare this to the Mountain Vista’s rate: $1.25 per $100 of assessed valuation.

In the case of my home with a secondary assessed valuation of $20,364 I would pay Golder Ranch Fire District $358.41 or Mountain Vista $254.55. Since Rural Metro matches the Golder Ranch FD tax rate, my next bill from them will be over $400.00!