Prop. F & Prop. S
Proposition F and Proposition S are measures on the April 7th ballot to create a 1% sales tax that will support fire and emergency medical services and renew a zero-tax rate change bond. If approved, they would provide funding for the West Overland Fire Protection District's operations and reduce property taxes by half of the amount received from sales tax revenues.
two votes, one big win for tax payers
Reduce property tax
What do these propositions do?
Prop. F provides a smarter funding mechanism that allow us maintain our services and roll back property tax rates. It will lessen the burden on property owners by ensuring that everyone who commutes through, works in, or shops in our community contributes to public safety.
Prop. S renews a bond for maintaining our equipment and facilities at no additional cost to you.
Why Are these propositions needed now?
Property tax is becoming increasingly unpopular and unreliable as a long-term funding source for our Districts. Personal property tax freezes and elimination are imminent, but that won’t bring relief for our taxpayers, it will just shift the taxes onto their most valuable and appreciating asset – their house.
Our sales tax initiatives shift that burden away from property owners and with it, our residents will have more control over when and how much they pay in taxes. They will also know exactly how much they're paying because there's no complicated formula like personal property tax.
Our bond renewal also ensures that we can maintain our equipment, vehicles, and buildings for years to come.
Property owners will see their annual taxes rolled back based on the revenue generated by sales tax.
What does this cost?
Prop. F would add one cent to each dollar spent on everyday consumer goods and luxuries. Many everyday essentials like fuel, prescription drugs, feminine hygiene products, diapers, and utilities will be exempt from the sales tax.
Prop S. has no additional costs for you.
Will this reduce my Fire/EMS services if it fails?
If these measures do not pass we will continue to operate with the funding mechanism that is currently in place. Your property tax rates will not be affected and we will periodically have to come back to the voters for property tax increases as state legislation reduces our operating tax rates.
Our funding will also fall more quickly because there will not be a bond available to help us offset maintenance costs.
What happens if there is an economic downturn?
A Fire District doesn’t spend everything the moment it comes in. We maintain emergency reserves and use multi-year planning to ensure response times, staffing, and equipment don’t suffer in lean years. These measures are about creating flexibility in how we fund safety without overburdening property owners.
Districts will still be able to float real property rates up in a bad economy and rates will be reduced even further in good economic years.
Why is property tax unpopular?
All of us pay taxes when we purchase something and then we’re taxed again every year for owning it. Personal property tax bills hit a family all at once, right before the holidays. Personal property tax calculations are not transparent so every year property owners have to guess how much they will owe to save appropriately. Renters, visitors, and commuters don’t even pay for it, but they still benefit from Fire/EMS protection.
Personal property tax is a regressive tax that doesn’t scale with income or spending habits – its a fixed cost of ownership which disproportionately affects families with more taxable items. This places a heavier burden on the families with working adults and teens who need multiple cars; small business owners with work trucks and trailers; or the local farm with vehicles and taxable machines.
Meanwhile, sales taxes apply to everyday purchases and they’re paid little by little. With this change, our residents will have more control over when and how much they pay in taxes and you will know exactly how much you’re paying.