De Beque Professional Firefighters Local 5328

06/02/2022

Brush 82 on the Calf Canyon Fire in New Mexico.

05/04/2022

Only an hour left to vote YES on ballot issue A. Drop box is available until 7:00 at the De Beque Fire Station! 4580 I-70 Frontage Road

05/03/2022

Its Election Day for the Fire District. Please remember to get your ballot dropped off by 7:00 tonight. Every YES vote helps ensure great fire, EMS and rescue services to our community.

04/20/2022

04/19/2022

Did you know that the De Beque Fire Department covers a 767 square mile area? Within this area, they are required to cover any Rescue, Hazardous Materials, WildFire, Structure Fire, EMS, and any other call to service. When the district was formed in 2008, the mil was set at 4, this was shown to be sufficient based on what was shown to be collected from the counties for the tax district. But, due to a county assessor's error, in 2011 the district was required to pay back $6,993,906. This grossly lowered the budget for the district. The fire district was able to sustain an operational budget for the last 10 years with the aid of grants and prioritizing spending, but with the drop in the oil and gas production, the district is relying on the assessed values alone, dropping the budget by over 75% from the first year. The district has also seen an increase in call volume, truck maintenance, cost of supplies, and fuel. The district has been sending resources nationally to bring in additional revenue. Doing this pulls from our local availability, leaving the district low-staffed. An increase in the mill levy would help maintain minimum staffing in the district making them less reliant on mutual aid and second alarm calls for the off-duty firefighters. A YES vote on Ballot Issue A would greatly benefit everyone in the De Beque Fires response area. This is an increase of approximately $55 a year for the property owners within the town limits. Even if assessed values go up, due to tabor laws, the district can only collect an additional 5% from the previous year. With this, it would take them many years to get back to a budget that would fit the district's current needs. The fire district is in a position right now where it needs to repair and replace some of the apparatus’. Staffing levels at the department are out of compliance with NFPA standards. However, the district is seeing an increase in call volume, this adds extra strain on the employees and the district while putting the community at risk. The fire district and your community need your YES vote on this ballot issue. Your continued support is very appreciated.

04/19/2022

Factual Summary Bullet Points
De Beque Fire Protection District
MAY 2022 ELECTION FOR VOTER AUTHORIZATION
TO INCREASE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE

• The Fire District provides fire protection, fire suppression, rescue, extrication, hazardous materials, emergency medical, and ambulance services to a 767 square mile area including the Town of De Beque and the surrounding residential, agricultural, and rural mountainous areas.

• The Fire District is independent from the Town of De Beque and is governed by its own five-member elected Board of Directors.

• The Fire Districts current mill-levy is at 4.0 mills. The proposed is 8.0 mills

• NFPA 1710 requires a minimum of 4 on-duty members. The Fire District currently staffs, 1 Paramedic Firefighter and 1 EMT Basic Firefighters per shift. In addition, the Fire District has 1 part-time Paramedic Firefighter, and 3 part-time EMT Firefighters. Per NFPA standards, this is inadequate staffing for EMS, haz-mat, rescue, wildland and structural fire calls.

• Most of the Fire Districts vehicles were purchased in 2009 and are due for replacement.

• Call volumes for the Fire District are continually increasing each year, with an increase of all calls (request for off duty staff to respond) and second alarm calls (requiring additional manpower/equipment from another agency). Mutual aid agencies (an agreement between fire departments to help each other across jurisdictional boundaries) have approximately a 30 minute response time to drive to De Beque from their stations.

This Factual Summary Bullet Points is being provided by The De Beque Professional Firefighters Labor Union Local 5328