Community Engagement FAQ

In 2011, Evans voters approved a citizen-driven proposal to remove the fire department from the City of Evans and reorganize it as a special district with no oversight from the City. Since 2012, EFPD has existed as an independent local government entity with an elected board of directors.

Until 2011, fire protection in Evans was provided by the City of Evans Fire Rescue Department. That year, after extensive study and community involvement, the Evans City Council determined that the City’s revenue projections were inadequate to address aging equipment, increased calls for service, and rising personnel costs. According to EFPD’s service plan, “the organization of a fire protection district is the best and most advantageous method of providing sustainable, high-quality, and cost-effective emergency services to the City’s citizens and their property.” In November 2011, Evans voters approved several ballot measures to allow formation and operation of a special district. These ballot questions included approving the newly formed District to collect property taxes and assume responsibility for fire service personnel and ownership of all fire apparatus and facilities. Separately, the City of Evans agreed to reduce its property taxes by 10 mills, which was calculated to be the amount the City was spending on emergency services at the time. The Evans Fire Protection District was officially formed on January 1, 2012.

Colorado has thousands of small, local governments called “special districts.” Special districts serve a single purpose, such as fire protection, water and sanitation, hospital, and park and recreation services. Evans Fire Protection District (EFPD or “the District”) is one of several fire protection districts in Weld County. The District, though its boundaries are the same as the City of Evans, is a separate and independent governmental entity.

EFPD’s 10-square mile service area is the same boundary as the City of Evans.

EFPD is authorized by Colorado law to provide fire suppression, fire protection, emergency medical response, and public education, rescue and extrication, and mitigation of hazardous materials. Though all personnel are certified to administer basic life-saving services (such as CPR) ambulance services in Evans are provided by UC Health.

In 2011, voters approved an annual property tax for the District of 10 mills and – in a separate ballot question – approved an additional 5.5 mills, for a total of 15.5 mills. Approximately 15% of the District’s revenue is generated by grants, vehicle taxes, and fees negotiated through Intergovernmental Agreements (IGAs) with the City of Evans and the LaSalle Fire Protection District. Since 2011 EFPD has never gone to the voters for additional funding despite thirteen years of increased call volume, flattening revenue, and rising personnel and equipment costs.

After conducting a top-down review of capital and operational needs and a robust community engagement process, the District later this summer will determine the total additional revenue it needs and may go to the voters with a proposed sales tax rate increase.

In terms of the size of its budget, EFPD ranks dead last among Weld County fire protection districts with a population over 5,000. Even with a modest sales tax increase, EFPD would still have the smallest operating budget among its counterparts. Notably, among these same twelve emergency service providers, EFPD’s call volume ranks sixth highest.

As Evans’ population continues to grow with more residents, EFPD often will get more than one emergency call at a time. Currently EFPD does not regularly have enough firefighters on-duty to adequately staff two fire trucks simultaneously. More staff and equipment are needed to meet the needs of Evans’ population growth

While the EPFD is reluctant to turn to its taxpayers for additional funding, EFPD leadership is finding it increasingly more difficult to provide adequate emergency services to its growing suburban community.

The District is faced with several specific financial challenges – none of which are in the District’s control – that make it difficult to maintain emergency services at current funding levels. In fact, the EFPD is balancing its budget each year by dipping into reserves, a practice that cannot be sustained long term. If current conditions continue, the District’s expenses will exceed its revenue starting in 2027. The specific challenges facing the District are:

• Inadequate property tax revenue growth. The total assessed property valuation in Evans is a mix of 60% residential; 24% commercial; and 16% a mix of agriculture, industrial, vacant land, and oil and gas extraction. Because residential property is taxed at a lower rate than commercial property, EFPD’s property tax revenue doesn’t keep up with the equipment, personnel and other operational costs.
• Rising personnel costs. The District employs 18 firefighters across three shifts. To remain competitive and retain talented firefighters, the District must continually monitor wages and benefits. The competitive labor market for firefighters in Colorado has raised the costs of employing firefighters 161% since 2012.
• Growing costs of equipment maintenance and upgrades. As with the cost of nearly everything, District expenses have increased dramatically since 2012. In the last 13 years equipment costs have gone up 15% to 75%, depending on the item; worker’s compensation costs and medical insurance premiums have risen 13%; and today a new firetruck costs three times what it did in 2012.
• A dramatic rise in concurrent calls for service. In 2012, its first full year of operation as a separate entity, EFPD responded to 1,487 calls for service. In 2024 that number increased to 2,554 – a 71% increase. At a predicted growth rate of 1.8%, the service demand will be 25 percent higher in 10 years and nearly 50% higher in 20 years.

At the current pace that District revenue is flattening and costs are rising, the District projects its expenses will exceed its revenue by 2027. EFPD is committed to do all it can to prevent a reduction in emergency services. However, if new revenue is not approved, the District will look at reducing overtime and training for firefighters and defer replacing outdated equipment and trucks.

Unlike property tax, which is directly levied upon all District property owners, sales tax is paid by everyone who makes a retail purchase in Evans. Those who buy large quantities of industrial products from Evans businesses don’t pay property tax, but they do pay sales tax. Commuters and other visitors to Evans benefit from EFPD’s emergency services, so they should also pay their fair share for those services.

The District has created efficiencies wherever it can without compromising the quality of emergency service. Unless EFPD can raise additional revenue, it will continue to dip into reserves to cover expenses. At current funding levels, the District cannot afford to replace out-of-service apparatus or replace departing staff, and it may have to cut overtime and training expenses. By 2027, if Evans voters don’t approve additional revenue, District expenditures will exceed its revenue.

Unlike some other local governments in Weld County, EFPD gets no revenue from oil and gas production. However, 7.5% of the District’s overall revenue comes from revenue from oil and gas property taxes from the one site in the District. EFPD’s primary revenue source is property tax, a total of 15.5 mills. Additional revenue is generated from fees paid by the City of Evans and LaSalle FPD, grants and vehicle tax.

An elected five-member board of directors is responsible for budget oversight, policy decisions, and generally ensuring the District is fulfilling its mission to provide adequate Emergency Services to our growing community in a cost-efficient manner. On the first Tuesday in May of odd years, voters within EFPD’s boundaries elect board members to four-year terms. The next board member election is in May 2027.

After making annual payments for several years as part of an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA), the City of Evans will no longer financially support emergency services as of January 2027.

Currently, the District has 18 full-time firefighters and four administrative staff.

Most volunteer firefighters are young firefighters looking for experience, who quickly leave volunteer service as soon as they find a career position. The volunteer firefighter program at EFPD was phased out due to the high turnover rate and high cost of outfitting and training volunteers.

Monthly board meetings – which are open to the public – are typically held at 6:30 pm on the fourth Monday of the month at Station 2 located at 2100 37th Street in Evans. Agendas and meeting minutes are posted on the website (see the drop-down menu under the Board of Directors tab). The public is encouraged to attend.