Voters will decide in the May 21 election whether to renew Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue’s local option levy to maintain emergency response services and personnel hired since 2000.

Measure 34-286 proposes a renewal of TVF&R’s existing levy rate at 45 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation for five more years.

The current levy expires in June 2020. Under Oregon law, levies expire in five years or less and require voter approval for renewal.

For property assessed at $300,000, about the average in TVF&R’s service area, the cost of the local option levy would be about $135 per year or about $11.25 a month.

If the levy renewal does not pass, funding that pays for at least 92 of 432 TVF&R firefighters and paramedics would be lost.

If the levy passes, levy funds will maintain firefighter, paramedic, and some staff positions that support operations. Levy funding will also be used to purchase land for future fire stations, fire hose, firefighting tools, and medical equipment to ensure effective emergency response.

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