by 
San Manuel Miner
Pinal Rural Fire Rescue is forming a new fire district. The new district will be known as the Pinal Rural Fire Rescue and Medical District. Pinal Rural has filed an Impact Statement with the Clerk of the Pinal County Board of Supervisors which is the first step in the process of transforming from a 501 (c)(3) to a Special Tax District per Arizona Revised Statutes 48-261.
The creation of a fire district will allow Pinal Rural Fire and Rescue (PRF&R) to provide dedicated service by a permanent fire district. It will allow for capital planning based on a known annual budget. Added revenues will allow PRF&R to hire shift firefighters and provide the ability to pay stipends to local volunteer staffing.
Property owners living in the district will be assessed a secondary tax of $3 per $100 of assessed value of their property. There is little difference in the tax fees and the current subscription fees. The new district will allow property owners to get fire insurance and/or have a positive impact on fire insurance fees. In some cases the savings in fire insurance premiums exceeds the tax assessed. Once the district is approved and set up, board members will be elected from property owners in the district. If you would like to follow the progress of the process for creating the district or learn more about Pinal Rural Fire and Rescue, visit their website at www.pinalruralfirerescue.webs.com.
John Hernandez lives in Oracle. He is retired and enjoys writing and traveling. He is active in the Oracle Historical Society. He covers numerous public events, researches historical features and writes business/artist profiles.
by by