Reasons to VOTE NO on a Town of Carefree Property Tax for Automatic Aid of Fire Department
Rural Metro Fire Department has given Carefree and the surrounding communities great service with fire and ambulance service. When it comes to medical, every engine co. and ambulance has well trained and certified paramedics along with certified EMT’s besides all the trauma medical gear and drugs. Also, all these EMT’s and paramedics are certified firefighters. If we open his door now for the first time, guess what? This door will never close, and this Carefree Property Tax will be INCREASED as needed by our politicians.
If Carefree were to sign up with Scottsdale or Daisy Mountain Fire Dept. our engine 821 will be in Scottsdale and Cave Creek more than our own town. Anytime Rural Metro Ambulance 821 goes on a call there is another ambulance coming into Carefree. With Rural Metro as our Primary provider Carefree has CONTROL and INPUT as a town should. With
Scottsdale or Daisy Mtn. Fire Depts. we would have very little control or input.
Right now, we have 2 engines co.’s stationed in our firehouse, engine 821 and 825. Engine 821 is the engine that Carefree pays for, and engine 825 use to be stationed in Cave Creek, but is now at Carefree fire station to cover the subscription Little County Islands.
By keeping engine 825 in Carefree there are many plus benefits.
a). Extra equipment and manpower at NO cost to Carefree for our use.
b). Rural Metro pays $4,000 a month rent to House E-825
SIDE NOTE: As I mentioned there are some County Islands around Carefree such as “Tonto Hills” that need fire and ambulance service. As good neighbors and citizens we would be helping them.
Carefree is only 8.5 sq. miles with mostly 1-acre semi-rural lots and homes now and some 5 acre lots to the far North. Carefree has a very good water company with well planned infrastructure in place. Water distribution and fire hydrants are thru-out all the neighborhoods and was rated with an “A” years ago by N.F.P.A. standards. Carefree is not like Cave Creek who has very few hydrants. Carefree has copious amounts of water to fight any desert or structure fire.
In 2022 Carefree medical and fire emergency total responses: 534
Medical – 357 Fires – 55 Accidents – 25 Snake Removal – 58 Other – 39
In My Opinion we need to be loyal to the Rural Metro Firefighters who have been loyal to Carefree and its residents. There is time left on the contract with Rural Metro Fire Dept. The town can save money, and, in the meantime, they will probably develop the commercial corners of Carefree Hwy. & Cave Creek Road. And Carefree Hwy. & Tom Darlington which will bring in more tax revenue.
VOTE NO!
Glenn R. Miller
Chicago Firefighter, Retired
Former Councilman & Vice Mayor, Carefree
