Getting To Know: GRFD Is Not Primarily A Fire Service

Starting October 10, Pima County is mailing early ballots for the November 5th election. There is a ballot measure requesting voter approval of a $26.6 million bond for Golder Ranch Fire District (GRFD). GRFD plans to sell the bonds over a three year period. GFRD plans to use bond sale proceeds for new facilities and to update existing facilities. The bonds will increase the total GFRD property tax rate, thus increasing your property tax.

GFRD is approximately 17% of  your property tax. It costs more than 2  times what Rural Metro cost Oro Valley residents before Rural Metro sold to GRFD about 14 years ago.

It is our sense that voters are relatively uniformed regarding GRFD. Thus, LOVE plans to present a series of informational postings regarding GRFD. Then we will discuss the bond offering and the use of proceeds.
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GRFD is an emergency medical and help service. Fire calls were less than 4% of all callouts
The state intended fire districts to be fire fighting operations when it established this legal form of organization. Districts were needed in order to cover large swarths of unincorporated land.

However, the word "fire" is a misnomer when it comes to Golder Ranch Fire District.

GRFD fights very few fires. Their primary purpose is to provide emergency medical and related service.

In 2018, fire calls were less than 4% of all callouts. 56% of the 2018 calls were for emergency medical service. A rather large catchall category of "other calls" is 37%.

The ratios have been the same over the years as seen on the following chart.