Voter Guide

Simple majority required.Ballot wording: Shall the Rock Community Fire Protection District impose a sales tax of an additional one half of one percent for the purpose of providing revenues for the operation of the Rock Community Fire Protection District, and the total property tax levy on properties in the Rock Community Fire Protection District shall be reduced annually by an amount which reduces property tax revenues by an amount equal to fifty percent of the previous year’s revenue collected from this sales tax?Summary: The measure allows the district to raise its current half-cent sales tax, passed in 2006, to 1 cent as now permitted by state law. If passed, about $4.8 million in additional sales tax would be generated annually, with district property tax amounts to be reduced by half that amount and the property tax rate to be reduced accordingly. The owner of a $250,000 home would get an estimated decrease of about $216 in property taxes. The increase in revenue would enable the district to meet increasing costs, improve service and decrease response times. Supporters say the measure would provide a more equitable way to share the costs of providing service while providing property tax relief. Opponents say the sales tax is regressive and that the region's sales taxes are too high.