MISSOULA – Voters living within the boundaries of the Missoula Rural Fire District will be asked to approve a mill levy increase this year, as the fire department looks to boost its ranks of firefighter/EMTs.
MRFD has only been able to guarantee two full-time firefighters at each station during the day shift since 2012. Two years later, voters approved a mill levy increase to replace a federal grant.
The new levy request approved by the fire district’s Board of Trustees would allow that program to be expanded to 24-7 coverage. The funds would be used to hire, train and equip 10 additional firefighter EMTs, expanding Advanced Life Support to the district’s five stations.
The training would include high-performance CPR practices, which have been used both inside and outside the city the past couple of years, with a teamwork approach that’s greatly increased survivability of cardiac patients.
The cost of the mill levy increase on a home with a tax-assessed value of $100,000 would be $39.96 per year. For a home with a tax-assessed value of $200,000, the annual increase would be $79.92 year.
Click here to learn more about the proposed tax levy.
