South Lane residents shoot down fire levy

LANE COUNTY – Election results are in. Last week, voters in Cottage Grove and Creswell had the opportunity to decide whether or not to increase funding for South Lane Fire and Rescue.

The measure on the ballot for South Lane residents gave voters the chance to consider replacing the District’s current levy of 47 cents with a new rate of 94 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value – an increase of 47 cents. For homeowners of median-priced homes in the district, valued at $198,639, this means they would pay $15.56 per month, or about $180 per year.

Unofficial results of the ballot show that 2,502 people voted in favor of the levy, but 2,971 people voted against it.

“As a union, we were surprised and discouraged by the results, as well as the lack of voter support,” said Stephen Beach, SLCFR captain and International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Local 851 representative.

What came as the biggest surprise was the voter turnout, Beach said. SLCFR covers 33,000 residents, and only about 5,400 people voted on the measure. The District provides 24/7 fire protection, advanced life support ambulance services, and emergency response across a 132-square-mile district.

“We’re definitely bummed,” he said.

The higher rate of Measure #20-372 would have allowed the District to meet increased call volumes and costs. It would have funded the purchase and staffing of a third District ambulance and continued other financing services.
As a result of the failed measure, property taxes will not increase, and neither will District resources. Without the new level of funding, the District will have to continue reducing its services to communities.

Beach explained that because of increased call numbers and service limitations, mutual aid calls for Eugene-Springfield Fire and North Douglas County Fire and EMS are a frequent occurrence.

“That is a normal daily occurrence because we don’t have the staffing, because of how busy we are,” he said.

SLCFR averages 450-500 calls for service a month. Beach explained the medic unit in Cottage Grove is on the road for about 20 hours a day, and the one in Creswell for around 15.

“We just don’t have the people to provide good quality or the best services we can provide to our community,” he said. “That was the whole point of this levy, to provide better services, provide more medic units. Our management team is looking at ways to kind of help boost the morale in a way, or lighten the load for our guys, because we are getting burnt out. We’re running way too many calls for the lack of staffing.”

He said a reduction in services might mean trying to reduce the call volume or reduce the calls that the District responds to.

Community help needed

Creswell and Cottage Grove residents can expect to see the measure on a ballot again in May 2026.

“The intent was to ensure that we can provide the best services possible for the community, and that’s kind of why we really need this Levy,” Beach said. “We’ll be doing some more events and some more education to the community in some way; we’re going to try to figure out what’s best, how to network or communicate to our community, the best way possible.”

Beach said help from the community is needed in order for the District to provide the highest quality services.

“The big thing is, we want to let the community know that from South Lane County Fire Rescue’s union firefighters, we sincerely appreciate the support and the continued support we’ve received from our community,” he said. “We’re just trying to do our best to serve the community. It’s just where we’re kind of at a point where we need help from the community.”