Rock Creek Fire District Levy on Ballot

Oct. 31--KIMBERLY -- Every year since 2008, at least 90 new homes have been built in the Rock Creek Rural Fire Protection District.

But the number of volunteer firefighters in the district, however, has shrunk, says the district fire chief.

The district will ask residents for more money, mostly to hire more personnel on Tuesday. The district needs another $440,000 per year to do its job, Chief Jason Keller said.

The levy rate would increase from .00117 to .002. That means a homeowner now paying $58 per year in taxes to the fire district would pay $100 if the levy passes.

"Our call volume has gone up 25 percent," Keller said. Four years ago, 30 firefighters volunteered their services. The district is down to 21 volunteers.

"With the population increasing, that's not enough to cover the area," he said. The emergency call volume in the district is at an all-time high.

Rock Creek Fire Station is Kimberly is manned only during business hours, Keller said. If the levy passes, the district will be able to man the station 24/7.

The district protects the east end of Twin Falls County, from 3300 East to the Cassia County line and from the Snake River Canyon to the National Forest Service boundary. The district also covers emergency medical services for the area.

The current levy is the minimum rate allowed. The proposed levy is still lower than the maximum rate of .0024, which is levied by Twin Falls and Buhl fire districts.

Providing better fire protection could improve the district's fire rating, which could -- eventually -- lower residents' fire insurance premiums, Keller said.

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