| WHAT ARE THE BOUNDARIES OF THE SPANISH LAKE FIRE DISTRICT ? |
The Spanish Lake Fire Protection District includes a 19 square mile area in extreme northern St. Louis County Missouri (USA). The District is bounded by the Missouri River on the north, the Mississippi River on the east, Interstate Highway 270 on the south, and Missouri Highways 367 and 67 on the west. This District has approximately 23,000 residents. Spanish Lake Fire District has mutual aid agreements with all fire departments and districts in St. Louis County, the Rivers Pointe (West Alton) Fire District in St. Charles County, and the City of St. Louis. The District also participates in the State wide mutual aid program. The Riverview Fire Protection District and City of St. Louis are on the southern boundaries of the district and the Black Jack Fire Protection District is on our western boundaries.
If you live within Area Code 63138 you live in the Spanish Lake Fire Protection District. |
| WHAT IS THE ORGANIZATION OF THE FIRE DISTRICT ? |
The Spanish Lake Fire Protection District is one of twenty-two fire protection districts in St. Louis County, Missouri and was founded in 1953. The District has 23 paid full time firefighters that work from two firehouses and one administration building. Firehouse No. 1 is located at 12220 Bellefontaine Road and houses Pumper Truck 5110 which serves the western end of the District. Firehouse No. 2 is located at 11811 Larimore Road and houses Ladder Truck 5125 which serves the eastern end of the District. The Administration Building is located at 11813 Larimore Road. The Fire District is governed by a three member civilian Board of Directors that are elected by the public. |
| WHAT SERVICES DOES THE FIRE DISTRICT PROVIDE ? |
Besides firefighting the Spanish Lake Fire District provides a number of emergency services including Emergency Medical (EMT-Paramedic), Search & Rescue, Ice Rescue, Water (river) rescue, Hazardous Materials Response & Decontamination, Carbon Monoxide and Natural Gas Emergencies, Breathing Air Team, Fire Prevention and Education Services. |
| HOW IS THE FIRE DISTRICT FINANCED ? |
Substantially all of the Fire Districts revenue is received through real estate and personal property tax assessments within the boundaries of the District. The tax rates are approved by a vote of the public within the District. The District is audited on an annual basis and the audit is a public record. |
| ARE THE CURRENT FINANCES OF THE DISTRICT ADEQUATE ? |
Falling real estate assessments and rising costs are putting a great strain on the annual budget of the District, which has caused a growing budget deficit situation each year. Five year projections indicate that there will be a major shortfall in revenues in 2011 and beyond, which will cause a severe cut in emergency services which could included the closing of Fire Station No. 2. This would have a severe impact on the delivery of service to our citizens, including extended critical response times to fires and emergencies and a increase in fire insurance rates for homeowners and business. All of this at a time when fire alarm calls have increased to over 1700 a year. Recent major fires have completely destroyed or severely damaged several single family residences in Spanish Lake. |
| CAN BOND ISSUE FUNDS BE USED TO OPERATE THE DISTRICT ? |
Some might ask, "But, you got a bond issue passed in 2000?" which is true. Bond issues can ONLY be utilized on capital equipment. The addition to Fire Station #1 on Bellefontaine, the purchase of a pumper truck for Fire Station #1 and a ladder truck for Fire Station #2 was part of the large bond purchases. None of the funds collected for the "Bond Issue" can be used for operational expenses such as fuel costs, utilities, salaries or fire prevention materials. All normal day to day operational costs must be paid through general revenue funds, of which we have not increased with a tax increase for fourteen years. |
 March 7, 2010  January 11, 2010  October 18, 2009  June 22, 2009 |
| WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE THE FINANCIAL CONDITION ? |
The Board of Directors are asking the citizens of the Spanish Lake Fire Protection District to approve a General Fund increase in taxes of twenty-five cents on $100 dollars of assessed valuation at an election on Tuesday, August 3, 2010. This increase is critical and would allow the Fire District to continue to operate at it’s current level of service. There has not been a voter approved general fund tax increase in Spanish Lake in 14 years. |
| WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP ? |
You can help by keeping the Fire District in a sound financial condition, so they can continue to keep your family and community safe from fire and disaster. We ask that you take a few minutes of your time and go to the polls on Tuesday, August 3, 2010 and cast a vote for your community fire department. While you’re there please give a shout out to a firefighter and say “thanks for what you do”. They will appreciate it and I’m sure they will thank you for helping to preserve the Fire District in a sound financial condition. |
| HOW MUCH WOULD PROPOSITION "F" COST THE HOMEOWNER ? |
If the twenty-five cent increase where to be approved by the taxpayers, it would cost the average homeowner in the District an additional $38.00 per year on a $80,000.00 home or 10˘ per day. |