The Durango Fire & Rescue Authority said consolidating the district would eliminate redundancy and allow for long-term planning – something that is nearly impossible now.
The district proposes two ballot measures in November: one that would ask city voters to approve a 15-year contract for fire services and another that would ask voters in the Animas and Hermosa Cliff districts to approve a single property tax that would replace their existing taxes and merge the two districts.
The plan was discussed Saturday during a public meeting at Durango Public Library. Only about 14 people attended, including six members of the fire district.
Bud Deering, a former board member and frequent critic of the consolidated fire district, pointed out early during the meeting that various boards may be in violation of the open meetings law because they had a quorum present to discuss fire business and didn’t notify the public of a board meeting.
The informational meeting was made public in the newspaper and in a letter sent to residents of the district, although it contained an incorrect time.
Deering and a couple of other residents took issue with the consolidation, saying some districts are bringing more to the table than the city of Durango.
Deering helped lead an effort last year to have Animas, one of the three funding partners, leave the consolidation and go back to being its own fire department. The effort was unsuccessful.
Chief Dan Noonan acknowledged there are some inequities, but he said mergers would never be accomplished if every player was required to contribute the same value or equipment.
All districts are better off today than they were 11 years ago before the informal merger, he said.
“We’re stronger than as three separate agencies,” he said.
The Rescue Authority was formed in 2002 by combining the Durango Fire Department, Animas Fire Protection District, Hermosa Cliff Fire Protection District and an ambulance service.
Voters approved the consolidation in 2006 by creating the Durango Fire Protection District, but voters rejected a uniform property tax, meaning each district maintains separate funding mechanisms and independent boards of directors.
A second attempt to unify the taxing district was defeated in 2011.
Both attempts would have resulted in higher taxes for most residents, especially property owners and business owners in the city of Durango.
The newest proposal would result in no higher taxes.
Animas and Hermosa Cliff residents would be asked to approve a 5.7 mill levy, which is the average amount Animas residents paid during the last 10 years. It amounts to a small decrease for Hermosa Cliff residents.
The city would pay an annual fee for fire services, similar to the $2.85 million it currently pays on a yearly basis. The money would come from the city’s general fund, which is made up primarily of sales taxes.
The merger would eliminate the threat for dissolution, result in one governing board rather than five and allow the district to make long-term funding decisions, Noonan said.
The Durango City Council this week is scheduled to release a draft of the proposed 15-year contract.
The contract is the only thing that would guarantee the type of services the city receives, since the city would not have any elected representation on the board of directors.
Animas board member Kathy Morris said it is one community. Many residents who live in the county also work or own businesses in the city, and they would want quality services in both places. And many city residents also own property in the county, which would enable them to run for election on the board.
All board members from the existing five governing bodies support the newest proposal, as do firefighters, Morris said.
If Animas and Hermosa Cliff residents vote to consolidate but city residents don’t approve the 15-year contract, the boards will have to decide whether to leave the Rescue Authority or continue as they have been, possibly renewing a contract with the city every year.
shane@durangoherald.com
An earlier version of this story gave an incorrect time for a public meeting Monday.
If you go
The Durango Fire & Rescue Authority might ask voters in November to consolidate the district and create a uniform taxing structure. A public meeting to discuss the proposal and possible ballot measures will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Bodo Industrial Park fire station, 142 Sheppard Drive.
