By Laura Zuckerman
The Idaho Falls Post Register
SALMON, Idaho — The city and county are moving toward consolidating fire protection services, but whether Salmon residents end up paying more or less for that service remains unclear.
Under the county levy, residents pay $58 a year per $100,000 of a property’s taxable value.
Here’s what’s clear: City and county leaders already have signed off on the consolidation plan, which still must be approved by the state. The city has funneled as much as $50,000 in tax revenues annually to fire services.
What’s not clear is whether the city will use that money for other areas of the budget or give residents a tax break.
If Councilman Jim Baker has his way, however, residents will receive a reduction in city taxes.
“I will really push to lower it,” Baker said.
Once the consolidation is official, Salmon property owners would pay a separate fee for fire protection services by the Lemhi County Fire Protection District in the next budget. That fee would be based upon the $58 per $100,000 of a property’s taxable value.
So, with the city in the black and Salmon property owners poised to pay for a service once provided under the city’s umbrella, Baker said he sees no reason to overtax residents.
The city began eyeing, under a single taxing entity, the fire protection district after an assessment of its equipment.
Salmon was looking at a cost of roughly $300,000 to replace a fire truck. The county fire district already has newer equipment.
Both the city and county draw from the same pool of about 33 volunteer firefighters for services. Specialized firefighting equipment makes up the bulk of expenses for both entities, according to Commissioner Ed Gibson of the Lemhi County Fire Protection District.
Under the consolidation plan, Gibson said, residents will notice no difference in the services they receive.
“For all intents and purposes, a consolidation of service is beneficial to both entities, with the district’s equipment providing additional protection and also helping to maintain the overall fire rating (a safety index used by insurers),” Gibson said.
The city’s outdated equipment likely would have affected its rating adversely over time, Gibson said, which might have boosted insurance rates.
As for labor, both municipalities would suffer without its largely volunteer forces.
“If it were not for our volunteers — firefighters, EMTs, search and rescue workers — we would be in significantly troubled waters,” Gibson said.
Consolidation of fire services comes at a time when the city also has toyed with the idea of consolidating law enforcement services with the county.
Lemhi County Sheriff Lynn Bowerman and Lemhi County Commissioner Bob Cope said those talks have yet to start in earnest but agreed discussions and proposals could be taken up early next year.
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