Lookingglass residents question fire district
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LOOKINGGLASS, Ore. -- Some residents in the Lookingglass area held an informational meeting Wednesday night, put on by a Lookingglass Community Support Group.
Bob Russell, a Lookingglass resident talked about what they see as a problem in their district. "They've taken an oath to protect and serve. and right now, these fire districts have forgotten that," Russell said.
The Lookingglass support group is urging residents to vote No on two ballot measures that they say will will triple the permanent tax levy.
Bob Russell says the Lookingglass Rural Fire District has not justified the increase.
Several of the volunteer board members were in the audience addressing the community's concerns. One volunteer board member in the audience told the group, "We can account for every penny."
Board chair Dennis Sifford told the people in attendance that they were doing things the way they should be done. "We are not trying to circumvent any law," he said.
Some people disagree, saying they want to dissolve the existing district and create a new one by changing one word: Rural.
Sifford says they would rather not change the name. but since they're in the eleventh hour of the ballot measure, it's too late to keep it.
If approved, the permanent tax levy will increase from about 55 cents to a $1.55 for every $1,000 of property value.
Sifford says that is an amount that can, "take this department into the future."
