Frederick-Firestone Fire District seeks additional funding to help protect response times and maintain emergency services by addressing its highest-priority staffing, equipment, apparatus, and capital facility needs.

FFFD’s tax revenues continue to decrease due to external factors not approved by district voters. In fact, the Fire District’s revenues have decreased by $4.3 million in 2025 due to reduced assessed valuations and state legislation. This is a 25% decline in year-over-year receipts.

The Fire District believes pursuing a half-cent sales tax makes more sense than requesting a property tax increase, as a sales tax would:

• More fairly distribute the tax burden, including capturing revenues from out-of-town consumers
• Diversify FFFD’s revenues, creating more resiliency and longevity
• Reduce the Fire District’s vulnerability to changes in state property tax laws
• Allow revenues to be used exclusively by FFFD to hire first responders, purchase apparatus and equipment, and maintain capital facilities and not by the towns, county, state, or federal government
• Temper the instability tied to property tax revenues, especially given fluctuating oil and gas valuations

•  Protecting or improving response times and emergency services
•  Providing equitable service call coverage
•  Attracting and retaining quality firefighters and paramedics
• Potentially reducing insurance premiums for homeowners and other property owners
• Easing homeowner property tax burdens by sharing the impact with all consumers, including those from out-of-town
•  Creating a more resilient, prepared, and enhanced Fire District

In addition to reducing oil and gas valuations, state legislation, including Senate Bills 22-238, 23B-01, and 24B-1001, has driven down FFFD’s property tax revenues.

Yes. FFFD continues to see significant increases in supplies, apparatus, equipment, and personnel costs. The price of keeping a fire station operational has risen 33% since 2021. This is another reason why the Fire District is experiencing funding shortfalls.

No. On average, Colorado fire departments rely on sales taxes for about 11% of their revenue. However, FFFD does not have a sales tax in place and is funded primarily by an existing mill levy paid by local property owners, ambulance fees, inspection fees, intergovernmental agreements, investments, and some state funding.

No. FFFD is a separate public entity and does not receive funding from either town.

A half-cent sales tax equates to 5 cents on a $10 purchase. Purchasing $4,000 of taxable goods within the District would result in a $20 tax.

Should district voters approve a half-cent sales tax measure, some in-town purchases, including all current state exemptions, would not be taxed. FFFD also seeks to exempt groceries, prescription medications, feminine hygiene products, diapers, and certain other goods.

The Fire District’s service population has increased by more than 36% since 2020, nearly doubling in just the past 10 years alone. As thousands of new residential units are added, further growth of 7% each year is anticipated. By 2030, the service population will be well over 50,000 residents.
 

The Fire District has experienced a 26% increase in 911 emergency call volume since 2021, and as the service area continues to grow, so will the demand for emergency services.

FFFD provides emergency services to the Town of Frederick, the Town of Firestone, and portions of Unincorporated Weld County, covering a 38-square-mile area.  

Yes. About 79% of FFFD’s calls are tied to emergency medical situations. This number is expected to increase as the District’s population continues to age and grow. The Fire District also responds to fire incidents, traffic accidents, calls involving hazardous materials, and many other types of emergencies.

Implementing a sales tax measure would help shift the burden away from District property owners by having visitors, who also benefit from the emergency services provided by the District, pay their fair share.

Adding firefighters, paramedics, apparatus, and equipment, including bringing Station 6 online, could elevate the District’s Insurance Service Office rating from Class 2/2x to Class 1. Having a lower ISO score could result in lower insurance premium costs for homeowners and other property owners.
 

When business owners decide where to locate and operate their businesses, all aspects of a community, including a favorable ISO rating and insurance rates, play a role.

FFFD’s Station 5 is officially open to serve Frederick’s Wyndham Hill and I-25/52 Highway Corridor area. Construction of Station 6 in the Barefoot Lakes area in Firestone will begin in late 2025, with the opening scheduled for 2027. These new stations are essential to meeting the community’s current needs and future growth, helping the Fire District protect response times and emergency services. Every district resident will benefit from having both stations fully operational.

FFFD needs to add 12 first responders (four per shift) within the next two years to address the rapidly increasing emergency call volume. This includes firefighter/paramedics and firefighter/EMTs. The Fire District estimates that an additional nine first responders (three per shift) will be needed by 2030. With six FFFD fire stations fully operational within the next few years, a deputy fire chief will also be needed.

Given the state and national shortage of first responders, attracting and retaining qualified firefighters and paramedics has become increasingly competitive, adding to the Fire District’s budget challenges.
 

FFFD will need to add two ambulances and two fire engines within the next five years, a total investment of $2.9 million. Each ambulance and fire engine costs approximately $350,000 and $1.1 million, respectively. There also remains a long lag between ordering and receiving apparatus, requiring the Fire District to properly time these purchases. 

FFFD must also replace outdated emergency radio communication equipment to comply with FCC regulations. This equipment is essential for firefighter and paramedic safety and efficiency. With additional firefighters, paramedics, and apparatus, the Fire District will also need to purchase more personal protective clothing, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), thermal imaging cameras, medical heart monitors, diagnostic devices, and rescue equipment.

Sales tax revenues would help fund the demolition and rebuilding of the 56-year-old Station 1 (Frederick) as well as the renovation of the 18-year-old Station 3 (Firestone) to address health, privacy, and security challenges for your firefighters.

For calls within the Town of Frederick and the Town of Firestone, FFFD remains committed to a rapid response time of 5.5 minutes or less, greater than 80% of the time. The national standard for a full-alarm response is less than 9 minutes, and FFFD meets this goal over 85% of the time. Maintaining this response time as the service population increases will require additional personnel, equipment, and apparatus.

A districtwide public opinion survey will be mailed to registered voter households in December 2024. The Fire District will also be hosting public information meetings. The first three meetings are:

• Public Meeting #1

             Wednesday, December 4, 6:00 p.m.

            Carbon Valley Community Center

            151 Grant Avenue, Firestone

• Public Meeting #2

               Thursday, December 5, 6:00 p.m.

               FFFD Station #1

              31 Walnut Drive, Frederick
 

• Public Meeting #3

               Wednesday, December 11, 6:00 p.m.

               FFFD Administration Building

               8426 Kosmerl Place, Frederick

If you’d like to participate virtually via Zoom on December 11, please contact Summer Campos at scampos@fffd.us.

Any additional questions can be directed to Summer Campos, FFFD Public Relations Director, at (720) 484-3367 or scampos@fffd.us.