Board Members
Megan Conrad, Chair
Sharlan Pierce, Clerk 
Kris Michell
James Carter

Contract Staff
John Flynn, Consultant

PUBLIC NOTICE AND DOCUMENTS
Fire District – City of Tempe IGA

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fire district charge on my property tax bill?

The Tempe County Island Fire District (TCIFD) was created as a means of procuring fire service and related emergency response services for residents of county islands in the Tempe municipal planning area. The district raises the amount of secondary property tax revenue necessary to reimburse the fire services provider, the City of Tempe Fire Department. A secondary property tax levy is the only means of raising revenue granted to this type of fire district by the Arizona Legislature.

How is the property tax amount set for the district?

 The TCIFD board sets the annual property tax levy necessary to cover the costs of operating the district. The majority of the cost of operating the district (approximately 64% of all funds) is for the City of Tempe to provide county island residents and property owners with fire service and primary emergency medical response and associated liability insurance coverage. The base amount district property owners pay for fire and emergency medical service is set by a formula within the intergovernmental agreement (IGA) between the city and district. The formula establishes that district property owners pay a pro-rata share of the city’s fire department budget in an amount equal to what a property owner within the city would pay. Direct service costs as established by the IGA are additional to the base funding amount. This same formula method is used to establish the cost in other county island fire districts in the valley.

Why do we need the fire district?

Many county island residents within the City of Tempe municipal planning area subscribed to Rural Metro, a private fire services provider for fire protection. Some property owners agreed to pay Rural Metro if they were called to the property for a fire or other emergency incident. As the City of Tempe annexed most of the county land into the city, Rural Metro was unable to remain financially viable and continue to provide adequate emergency response. When Rural Metro withdrew from providing service to county island property owners and residents, they were left without fire services. Under a new state law (HB2780) enacted in 2008, the establishment of a special type of fire district (county island fire districts) was authorized to enable county island residents and property owners the ability to obtain fire services, either from a private provider or the surrounding municipality.

What does this mean for me?

First of all and most importantly, it means that when you pick up the phone and dial 9-1-1, a City of Tempe fire unit will immediately respond. Through the fire services IGA entered into by the TCIFD and the City of Tempe, fire and emergency services are delivered to county island residents and property owners the same as they are to city residents.

Second, commercial property owners are now bound by the City of Tempe fire code. Because many of the county island properties were developed without fire code oversight, some properties may not be compliant with current fire code requirements. The City of Tempe has a fire inspector dedicated to assisting county island commercial property owners with fire code compliance issues.

Can I opt out of the District?

No, the only method in which to remove property from the TCIFD is through annexation of the property into the City of Tempe.