Lyon fire board talks tax hike

DAYTON - Fire and county officials will meet on Wednesday about a proposed tax increase for the Central Lyon County Fire District.

The district board will be discussing a potential tax initiative with county financial personnel.

Lyon County Comptroller Rita Evasovic and County Clerk/Treasurer Nikki Bryan have been asked to attend the meeting to answer questions relating to the tax initiative process.

Though only in its conceptual stage at this point, District Chief Bill Driscoll wants all information regarding the proposal to be brought before the board for discussion.

Driscoll told those attending a recent Dayton Advisory Council meeting the district is looking at service level needs and related costs, including the possibility of increasing the hours for the Paramedic/EMT teams currently working each end of the district.

Driscoll said whatever direction is taken, it will add up to at least an additional six cent property tax assessment. Some board members have mentioned an increase of up to 11 cents.

"If we find additional revenue is needed, we do not want to take a band-aid approach. We want to do it right," he said.

"Additional revenue would probably be used for manpower, but until our workshops are completed we won't know for sure. We are putting together options to improve the service level," Driscoll said Monday.

Driscoll said he is currently gathering information the board needs to make a final decision on whether to put the tax initiative on the ballot, including specific details regarding the district's current response time to fires and other emergencies.

Due to a conflict in scheduling, the meeting will be held at the Mark Twain Fire Station, not the new Sutro facility.

The district has also scheduled a special informational meeting for the public on April 29, beginning at 10 a.m.

If you go

What: Central Lyon County Fire District Board

Where: Mark Twain Fire Station, 817 LaFond Avenue

When: 7 p.m.

For information call 246-6209.