The Sugar Loaf Fire Protection District relies primarily on property taxes to fund our operation, although we typically also receive money from fund raising projects, donations and grants.

Property Tax Mill Levy

As a special district, the SLFPD collects property taxes from the property owners within its boundaries. If you live within the boundaries of the Sugar Loaf Fire Protection District, part of the property tax you pay goes to support the activites of the District.

The annual property tax for an individual property in the District =
    Actual Property Value  x  Assessment Rate  x  Mill Levy

(the Actual Property Value  x  Assessment Rate = Assessed Value).

In 2005, the Boulder County Assessment Rate is 7.96% for residential property,
29% for all other property.  Your total tax bill is a function of all the Mill levies you pay, such as school tax, Regional Transportation District tax, fire protection tax, etc.

For its part of your tax bill, the SLFPD currently has two mill levies: one for general operating expenses, which is perpetual in nature, and a second, which in place from 1990-2011, to raise money to replace outdated trucks. The general fund tax rate is 0.3576 percent (3.576 Mills, or $3.576 per $1,000 of assessed value), the capitol expenditure tax rate is 0.3162 percent (3.162 Mills), for a total tax rate of 0.6738 percent (6.738 Mills).

Therefore, for residential property the District will collect $53.64 per $100,000 of actual value ($100,000 x 0.0796 x 6.738 /1000), of which $28.46 will go towards the general fund and $25.17 towards the capitol fund.

Similarly, for non-residential property the District will collect $195.40 per $100,000 of actual value.

District Budget

The SLFPD obtains funds from property taxes, fund raising events, donations and grants. In 2004, the District's budget was, in round numbers:

Income
$140k - property tax
$  36k - donations, fund raisers, fees, etc
$  98k - grants
$274k - total

Expenditures
$  43k - Administrative (Insurance, utilities, etc)
$  42k - operating (supplies, repairs, training)
$  85k - capitol (truck lease-purchase, bunker gear, etc)
$  99k - grant purchases (mitigation costs, station expansion, etc)
$269k - total