Emigrant Lake-area residents at scheduled town hall bring up prospect of levy to support services — a proactive step the acting fire chief said he’s never heard of before

By Buffy Pollock, Rogue Valley Times

While implementation of a tax levy was not a planned topic of conversation during a Jackson County Fire District 5 public forum on Saturday, patrons surprised district officials by raising the issue themselves. The nearly two-hour forum hosted at the district’s Neil Creek Road Station 4, located near Emigrant Lake on Neil Creek Road, was called to update patrons in the southerly portion of the 120-square-mile service district on staffing and ongoing efforts toward addressing the district’s financial challenges.

The rural station, which has the district’s lowest call volume, has been one of the more heavily impacted by ongoing issues. District officials opted for reduced staffing at the station beginning in August 2024 while facing projected funding shortfalls ranging between $1 million to $3 million at the time.

Troubles for the embattled district began in February 2024 when union members said they’d lost confidence in then-district Chief Charles Hanley. Concerns about Hanley’s tenure ranged from alleged unacceptable treatment of employees by top-level brass to a staffing crisis that threatened the safety of firefighters and the public.

Hanley was eventually removed, following the abrupt resignation of half of the previous board; county commissioners later appointed new board members to restore a quorum.

Grappling with ongoing financial issues, and eventually both financial and criminal investigations into the former administration, district officials entered into a contract for administrative support from Jackson County Fire District 3, which took over leadership of District 5 on Jan. 1, 2025.

On Saturday, patrons were offered an update on what acting fire Chief Mike Hussey said was a slow but steadily improving outlook for the district and Station 4, which Hussey said the district managed to staff for increased number of days in recent months and 105 total 24-hour shifts since April 1.

The district met with patrons who live closest to Station 4 last May, Hussey said. Saturday’s open house was to “kind of offer a report card on how it’s going.”

When describing rebuilding efforts, Hussey said he was surprised by patrons who suggested the district seek additional funding by way of a tax levy.

“I’ve never had patrons suggest that before,” he told the Rogue Valley Times on Monday.

“It would save money over time. Our notes are all for eight and 10 years. A levy would pay off the debt in four years and allow us to boost staffing sooner than anticipated. … but not everyone seemed to like the idea. There were a number in the room (during the open house) shaking their head, ‘No.’”

Hussey said it would be up to board members to discuss whether a levy could be an option at a future time but said deadlines to propose a ballot measure for the upcoming November election were likely too soon for the district to consider the option in the near future.

Hussey told patrons on Saturday that the district is tackling a current debt level of $8.1 million and that the district had “achieved the low watermark” and was focusing on moving forward. Hussey said district officials are working to determine if all or part of a recently discovered $1.4 million FEMA grant can be forgiven, a variable which hinges on filing of correct financial audits; district auditors recently completed a 2021-22 audit and began working on 2022-23.

“We are hoping all or some of the $1.4 (million) is forgiven. We built a budget to pay for 21 career firefighters with (an) additional three to be hired in late spring,” the acting chief said. “We can’t do that right now.”

District patron Ron Crowell voiced frustration with rising insurance rates — his homeowner insurance rates recently increased from $1,000 to $1,700 per month, he said at the town hall — which he said he felt had to do with the lack of 24/7 staffing at the Neil Creek Road station.

Crowell was one of several patrons who indicated support for a levy and favored forming a citizen committee to provide increased communication between the district and patrons.

Hussey said, comparatively, a 25-cent levy (per $1,000 assessed property valuation) would fund about $2.6 million over four years. A $1 assessment would provide $11.8 million over the same term. Average cost per year, per residence, would cost $75 at the 25-cent rate and $300 for the higher $1 assessment.

As to his support of a levy assessment, Crowell said, “I’m paying $600 a month additional. Would I be willing to spend an extra $300 to help?”

“They’re spending a huge percentage of their annual budget on debt servicing, which is not going into manpower or new equipment or anything. Let’s pay off the damn debt and move past this,” he said. “I’m in favor for short-term increase of two or three years to get back to even footing, get the thing running right. It’s not only about the money, but look at all these people spending so much time to try to figure out how to work with these current gravitational forces. Pay it off and let them get back to just doing their jobs.”

Hussey said additional funding would improve the district’s financial footing, but that district officials continue to “move forward” and “slowly address issues with a focus on increased staffing.”

Hussey said he was grateful for support from district personnel and patrons.

“I’m really appreciative of our workforce’s patience and their compromises,” he told the Times on Monday. “They continue to serve the community and provide a high level of service. And our community has extended patience and grace. … We just keep taking it all one day at a time.”

A recording of the open house is available on the district website. For upcoming meeting times and other information, visit jcfd5.com online.

Reach reporter Buffy Pollock at 458-488-2029 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @orwritergal. This story first appeared in the Rogue Valley Times.

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