Property tax hike to fund four new fire stations

Adrienne Packer

Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2001 | 9:48 a.m.

Clark County taxpayers will see a 3-cent bump in their property taxes during the next two years after commissioners on Tuesday agreed that the increase is needed to build and staff four new fire stations.

Without going to voters, the county has the authority to levy 25.5 cents per $100 in assessed property values for fire services. The increase will push it to that level.

Though the increase will pay for four new stations, the county will have to put another bond question on the 2004 ballot if it intends to staff an additional four stations, which may be needed if the valley continues to grow.

Clark County Finance Director George Stevens said Tuesday it is not known how much property taxes would increase with the bond issue, but said each new station requires a 2-cent hike to staff.

"The ballot question in 2004 depends on whether we want to staff some or all of the remaining four stations," Stevens said. "Because of growth, we might identify the need for even more stations, or we might decide we don't need all four."

The county presented a list of eight stations it has the money to build, but not to staff.

Four stations can be completed using funds from a 1995, $10.5 million bond. Commissioners directed Fire Chief Earl Greene to give the board a list of four locations that most desperately need fire protection.

Stevens said debt from the 1995 bond will be paid off in 2004. However, because the bond doesn't expire for an additional 10 years, the county can keep the tax rate in place and use the money to construct the four planned stations.

With the 1995 bond money -- in addition to general services funding -- four new fire stations were built and one station was replaced.

The eight proposed locations for new stations include Silver Hawk and Spencer avenues; Southern Highland; Summerlin; Windmill and Durango roads; Warm Springs and Paradise roads; Jones Boulevard and Russell Road; Rhodes Ranch and Harmon Avenue and Hualpai Way.

Greene said the station at Silver Hawk and Spencer Avenue in the southeast is most critical.

"After that, response times and other variables will determine which station goes next," Greene said.