In November of 2006, a two-thirds voter majority approved a special property-based assessment known as the fire tax. This tax enables the Fire Department to purchase capital equipment. With the revenue from the fire tax, the City was able to secure a 10-year loan for $1,091,964 in order to purchase a four-wheel-drive Intruder Pumper Truck and a Quint Aerial Ladder Truck as well as the related hoses and supplies to outfit the engines. The fire tax is permanent, and only goes to support the Fire Department.
Cost of Living
Every January the fire tax receives a cost of living adjustment. This adjustment will raise (or possibly lower) the fire tax based on the Engineering News Report's Construction Cost Index, which essentially measures inflation.