Wilson Creek to put annexation on ballot

by Cameron Probert<br>Herald Staff Writer
| December 30, 2008 8:00 PM

WILSON CREEK — Wilson Creek city officials want to give residents the choice of being annexed into Grant County Fire District 12.

The city is asking the Grant County Auditor to approve a ballot item, which would change how the district receives money.

The city contracts with the district for fire and ambulance services.

Susan James, the city clerk, said the city is looking at the change because of the cost of ambulance services. While district 12 is responsible, they have to call Grant County Fire District 5 for an ambulance.

“Fire district (5) has to charge about $70 every time an ambulance (is sent to the city),” she said. “It’s costing (district 12) about $10,000 a year. In order to help cover that expense the fire district would annex the town.”

Presently the city pays the district $600 and provides them space in the old city hall. If the city is annexed, the district would receive part of the property taxes.

The city receives about $3 per $1,000 of assessed value in property taxes, according to a report from the Grant County Assessor’s Office. This creates roughly $19,024 for the city annually.

If the city joins the fire district, the property tax rate would rise by 60 cents, according to the assessor’s office. The city would then split the money with the fire district. The district’s revenue would increase by about $8,000 and the city’s would decrease by about $2,000.

Scott Mortimer, the district’s assistant fire chief, said if the district annexes the city, it wouldn’t change the level of service.

“This formalizes an arrangement that’s been in effect all along,” he said. “(Having the fire district) is much more cost effective … than any small town to think of trying to take on the expense of training and equipping personnel for emergency medical or fire.”

James and Mayor Kathy Bohnet said the issue would probably go forward in the next election that is held.

“We were going to do it in conjunction with another election,” Bohnet said. “We always piggyback with another election.”