Lane Fire Authority holds Veneta forums on proposed levy measure

Lane Fire Authority is asking Veneta residents to judge Measure 20-378 by a simple test: what level of emergency service will the levy buy, and what could get worse if it fails? The district says the measure on the May 19 ballot could affect firefighter staffing, ambulance coverage and response times across its 282-square-mile service area.

To explain the stakes, the district scheduled two question-and-answer sessions at 88050 Territorial Highway in Veneta. The forums are set for 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 30, and 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 2. Residents can also watch the discussion livestreamed on Lane Fire Authority’s Facebook and YouTube channels.

The League of Women Voters of Lane County describes Measure 20-378 as a five-year local option levy for general operations. It would ask voters whether the district should impose $0.55 per $1,000 of assessed value for five years beginning in 2026-2027. At that rate, a property assessed at $100,000 would pay $55 a year, and the League says the measure may push property taxes up more than 3 percent.

The timing matters because Lane Fire Authority has already shown what happens when levy support slips. In January, the district removed one peak-hour ambulance stationed in Veneta after voters declined to renew a local levy. Earlier reporting said the district’s levy was first approved in 2021, but demand has climbed since then, with emergency medical services making up 80% of all calls and overall call volume rising nearly 20% since 2021.

If the measure does not pass, KEZI reported that Lane Fire Authority would continue with its permanent tax rate and its board would decide on any necessary service or staffing changes. The district’s base mill rate is $2.04 per $1,000. KVAL also reported that the district was pausing vacation approvals and warning of layoffs if the levy does not pass, underscoring how tightly the budget is linked to daily operations.

For western Lane County, that means the levy is not an abstract tax question. It is a decision about whether crews can keep pace with a growing share of medical emergencies, whether Veneta keeps the response capacity it has now, and how quickly help can reach homes spread across a large rural area when the next call comes in.