AFPD MILL LEVY: Background & KEY FACTS

Allenspark Fire Protection District (AFPD) is a 32-member volunteer fire department providing emergency services to protect life and property within the 160-square-mile district, including the residents of over 2,000 properties and countless visitors.

The AFPD Board of Directors seeks to increase the mill levy by 5.3 mills to address budget shortfalls and fund additional programs in support of the district. Additional property tax revenue from a mill levy increase would allow the department to: Maintain current service levelsIntroduce new programsCompensate some members who currently volunteer their time to manage and provide programs.The mill levy was instituted in 1953 and was increased in 1983 and 2003.

Volunteers are trained and certified at the same level as their career counterparts.Provided services include: structure, vehicle, and wildland firefightingmedical emergenciessearch and rescue response and coordinationhazardous material responsemotor vehicle accident mitigation and medical responsefire and smoke alarm activationillegal or unattended campfireslift assistssmoke report investigationresponse to mutual aid requests from neighboring and federal agencies, including structure fire, wildland fire, and medical standby Volunteers also perform the administrative, operational, and planning work necessary to run a fire service, including:fire inspectionscamp inspectionssite plan reviews for new construction and additionscommunity education eventsparticipation in and medical standby at community eventscommunity mitigation planning inputcommunity communication through social media

Conservative estimates indicate that AFPD volunteers donate well above the national average of 66 hours per year, as reported by USAFacts.org. AFPD volunteer estimates:Members donate 288 hours per year for training, calls, and truck checks.Officers donate an additional 48 hours per year to attend operational meetings and prepare training content.Members share coverage of an additional 32 hours each year to assist with community events, such as providing medical standby, participating in them, or hosting community education events.Operational task requirements require an additional 48 hours per year, which are shared among the members.Many volunteers at all membership levels donate countless more hours to support operations, training, and more.Overall, members are estimated to donate between 288 and 416 hours to the administration and operation of the fire department.

The district covers 160 square miles. Boundary landmarks include Highway 7’s mile marker 5 near Estes Park, southeast to mile marker 26 outside of Lyons, the Rocky Mountain National Park border to the west, and County Road 59 in US Forest Service land north and east of Highway 7. The district also extends south on Highway 72 to mile marker 52 near Camp Dick.