County’s $3.9 million fire fund to be moved into new Cache Fire District; district to set 2027 levy

Chair opened discussion on tax reallocation, and a county official explained the budget framing for the planned transition to a new fire district. "Our budget is 3,900,000," the official said, and added the county has redivided that amount to the areas outside Logan City and intends to transfer it to the fire district so the district will have that funding available.

The official described a proposed municipal services levy framework that would aim to equalize what residents pay for fire service: "I was going to recommend that we levy the unincorporated county the difference between what the fire district board levy is and 800 mills," he said. Under the plan, the county would collect the levy and contract with the fire district to provide service. Board members asked whether this redivision is merely a relabeling on property notices; the official confirmed it is a redivision this year and said the first time the new fire district will impose taxes directly will be 2027.

Board members discussed the potential impacts for individual municipalities. The official cautioned the levy decision is complex and that the district board will decide the precise 2027 tax level during a public hearing this fall. He said the county's reallocation preserves the $3.9 million for district operations and that cities and the district will have some discretion over how municipal contributions and the district levy interact.