SAVANNAH — The Savannah Volunteer Fire Company is asking voters to approve a 4-mill levy that would replace two existing levies.
The proposed levy for the Clear Creek Fire District is estimated to generate $265,119 annually, according to Chief Steve Densmore. It would cost an estimated $140 annually for a property owner with a home valued at $100,000, Densmore said.
A 2.7-mill renewal levy passed in 1987 and a 2-mill additional levy passed in 2017. The 4-mill levy would replace the existing 2.7-mill and 2-mill levies totaling 4.7 mills.
All previous fire district levies will expire rather than be renewed. The amount residents pay for those levies will drop off their property taxes when the new levy takes effect.
The Savannah Volunteer Fire Company has operated under the same 2.7-mill levy for more than 35 years. Because property tax levy revenue does not automatically keep pace with inflation, the funding has not kept up with rising equipment and operating costs.
What does the levy fund?
Since 2017, the company has paid two employees to staff the firehouse from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The levy would help fund those shifts and provide daytime coverage for an advanced life support (ALS) unit.
The funding also would help pay for improvements like garage doors and insulation to the department’s 26-year-old building.
The fire company has plans to replace its two primary fire engines — a 1990 model and a 2006 model, Densmore said. The National Fire Protection Association recommends that fire departments replace apparatus after 20 years.
The cost of a new fire engine has increased by 609% since 2000, according to the village’s levy information. An engine that cost $169,000 that year would cost about $1.2 million in 2026.
What happens if the levy fails?
Without the levy, the company would have challenges maintaining its paid daytime staff.
Densmore said lack of assistance could lead to longer emergency response times and the need to rely on neighboring departments to respond to calls during the day.
The company has 18 volunteers, but finding people available during the day has become a challenge. Densmore said fewer farmers and small-business owners are available to leave work and respond to emergencies.
Densmore said the company began its daytime staffing program in 2017 to address the gap in coverage.
Emergency medical services account for approximately 80 to 85% of the company’s calls, Densmore said.
The company also seeks grants to help cover equipment and supply costs. In the past two years, it has secured more than $220,000 in grant funding.
Grants have helped the fire company get updated equipment, protective turnout gear and emergency medical supplies.
How can voters learn more?
The Savannah Volunteer Fire Company plans to host an open house from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 29 at the firehouse.
Residents can ask questions and learn more about the company’s equipment and funding needs.
The levy will appear on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.
