Cave Creek to vote on property tax

STAFF REPORT~ 12/28/2011

Cave Creek residents will vote on a property tax which would fund fire and ambulance services for the town in a special election, May 15.
The council voted by a 4-3 margin on Monday to approve putting the issue on the ballot.
If approved, the property tax would be levied on taxable property in town, but would not cover any needed infrastructure. The tax could go up no more than two percent annually.
Rural Metro Fire Department has served Cave Creek since 1965. It provides fire and ambulance services at stations located at 37402 N. Cave Creek Road in Cave Creek and 37401 N. Tom Darlington Road in Carefree.
Under the current setup only about 45 percent of residents are subscribers for fire services with Rural Metro. Non-subscribers are billed for any fire fighting or emergency medical costs.
The levy would raise $1.3 million for the current level of fire and ambulance service, the town estimated.
If voters approve the property tax, it would go into effect in July of 2013, and a contract would be put out to fire service providers for bid.