Letter: Fire rescue needs stable, long-term funding source

In 2017, the City Council approached the Steamboat Springs Area Fire Protection District to help find a sustainable funding source for fire and emergency medical services. A work group composed of representatives of the City Council, city staff and the fire protection district convened and evaluated ways to stabilize funding for fire and emergency medical services as well as relieve pressure on the city general fund for the costs of providing services. The working group evaluated different options and kept the City Council and district board apprised of their progress. The group recommended to the council and the fire protection district that the best approach was to include the city into the district. Steamboat Springs Fire Rescue provides fire and emergency medical services for the city and surrounding area in the district through an intergovernmental agreement with each partner contributing funds based on the demands for service in each area. The district’s contribution comes from property taxes; the city's through general city sales taxes.