Springfield studies fire district merger.

Byline: Matt Cooper The Register-Guard

SPRINGFIELD - Folding the Springfield Fire Department into the smaller Willakenzie Fire District is either a progressive way to save money or an attempt to free up city taxes once earmarked for fire protection.

A citizens' panel is studying advantages and disadvantages of annexation. A public hearing is scheduled for Oct. 27, after which the City Council will either decide the matter itself or opt to put the issue before voters.

Springfield Fire Chief Dennis Murphy sees benefits in annexation, if the numbers work out. City Councilor Stu Burge, on the other hand, is an outspoken critic. And somewhere between, perhaps, is Steve Cornacchia, an attorney for the district.

The three recently assessed the pros and cons of annexation, but first things first: What would annexation mean?

The Springfield fire department's coverage area - that is, the entire city - would be melded into the Willakenzie district, which contracts with the city for coverage of smaller areas northwest and south of the city.

Fire protection would be financed by taxpayers in the new district, which would include city residents and those already living in the Willakenzie district.

Springfield fire trucks eventually would be changed to read "Willakenzie." There would be no other immediate changes to equipment, buildings or personnel, Murphy said.

The annexation also would free up city tax dollars for other purposes. How?

Of its $13 million annual budget, the Springfield fire department collects $6.3 million from city taxpayers, as well as state money and franchise fees.

After shifting the fire department expense to the district, the City Council would decide whether to roll back taxes accordingly or maintain the current tax rate, using the money that formerly went to the fire department for other purposes.

One possibility is to use the tax revenue for the police department, which is funded in part by a four-year levy that ends in 2007.

Springfield firefighters have yet to take an official position on annexation, but they'll support it only if the cost to taxpayers stays the same or drops while service stays the same or improves, said Jeff Kronser, president of the department's union.

Fire chief sees potential

Murphy said the city could use the money that formerly funded the fire department for police, eliminating the need to pass a police levy every four years.

Another advantage, Murphy said, would be the savings in eliminating duplicated services, as more fire departments join.

For residents of the district, Murphy said, the annexation also would mean better representation.

Currently, Willakenzie residents must accept the level of service - and the charge - that the city dictates.

After annexation, the district's board would establish service levels and one tax rate with input from district residents.

Murphy said the concern for city residents is simple: After shifting the expense of the fire department to the district, the City Council could choose to keep the current tax rate or only partially reduce it, in effect redirecting to other areas the taxpayer dollars that once went to the fire department.

Murphy said, however, that annexation is being studied on the premise that city residents won't pay more for the same coverage, at least initially, but the tax rate could change over the years, he added.

What concerns Burge is that after shifting the fire department expense to the district, the city could continue to tax residents at the same rate and funnel the fire department money to other departments.

Meanwhile, Burge said, residents would still have to pay a tax to the district.

Burge doesn't see improved efficiency. That's more likely to happen when large departments merge - not when a large department such as Springfield is annexed into a smaller district that has no facilities, equipment or personnel of its own.

District needs the numbers

Cornacchia, representing the district, said annexation would improve the level of service to Willakenzie residents because the city would no longer consider that area a lower priority.

Today, "it's very clear, if the city has a problem within its jurisdiction first, that has primary consideration," he said.

Also, after annexation the board would decide the cost of service, Cornacchia said. In recent years, the city's charge to the district has been climbing dramatically.

If the fire department is annexed, all residents of the new district would pay $2.39 per $1,000 of assessed property value, city Finance Director Bob Duey said.

It's unclear how much city residents are currently taxed for fire services because the city doesn't break those numbers down.

Willakenzie residents, however, pay $3.07 per $1,000 of assessed property value - and that suggests that the annexation would mean a tax break for them.

Cornacchia warned that officials have yet to calculate the long-term costs for vehicles and other capital expenses, as well as employee benefit costs.

For the annexation to work, Duey said, the cost for members of the Willakenzie district must ultimately go down - at least in comparison with the long-term charge they face if they continue to buy fire service from the city.