Durango Fire & Rescue Authority formed in 2002 by cooperative agreement between the city of Durango, Animas Fire Protection District and the Hermosa Cliffs Fire Protection District. Since then, it has provided excellent emergency services, but has been plagued by inefficient governance and potentially unstable funding.

Attempts to rectify the situation through creation of the Durango Fire Protection District succeeded only in forming yet another governing board – without funding to take over consolidated management.

A new proposal seeks to reduce government by eliminating four boards, leaving only the elected members of the DFPD board of directors, and to secure a sustainable financial future for DFPD without increasing taxes.

This outcome requires passing three separate ballot issues – one in each fire district and one in the city:

AFPD voters must approve paying property taxes to DFPD (instead of AFPD) at a rate of 5.7 mills – the average of the AFPD rate over the last 10 years. AFPD then would pay off its bond debt, transfer its assets to DFPD, and dissolve.

HCFPD voters must approve the same tax levy for DFPD – a small decrease. HCFPD would likewise proceed to dissolution.

Durango voters must authorize the City Council to enter into a long-term contract for emergency services from DFPD, paying the city’s fair share of costs from general revenue, as it currently does, and not from a dedicated property tax.

For details, see www.durangofirerescue.org/public_docs_district.html.

To ensure that city residents and businesses continue to receive the same quality services as voting members of DFPD, the proposed contract includes strict performance guidelines. Further, although the DFPD board is drawn only from district property owners, not from Durango residents, the DFPD board always has included strong representation from the Durango business community.

The referendums have unanimous support from all the present governing boards. I urge voters in the city and in the AFPD and HCFPD to approve their respective ballot issues.

Dick White, mayor

Durango