MEMORANDUM

TO: Timothy Navarre, Assembly President

Members, Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly

FROM: Timothy Navarre, Assembly President

Dale Bagley, Mayor

DATE: August 22, 2002

SUBJECT: Ordinance 2002-____, providing for a partial exemption from real property taxes for volunteers who provide firefighting or emergency medical services

For several years the volunteer firefighter and emergency medical service organizations throughout the borough have experienced difficulties in recruiting qualified trained volunteers to provide services for their organizations. Firefighters and emergency medical service providers supply an important service to the community. For over two years, emergency medical services has been designated as being in crisis statewide due to the lack of volunteers.

During its last session, the state legislature enacted Senate Bill 4 which authorizes municipalities to provide an exemption from taxation on up to $10,000 of the assessed value of real property owned and occupied as the permanent place of abode for certain qualified volunteer firefighters and emergency medical service providers. This ordinance would exercise that authority and provide an important step in helping volunteer organizations recruit new members. It would authorize the exemption as provided by state statute to any persons who are certified as current and active volunteers within the boundaries of the Kenai Peninsula Borough for qualifying volunteer firefighting or emergency medical service organizations.

Your support of this ordinance would be appreciated.