The mill levy request is the same as before. The district wants an additional 38 mills, which would generate $1.5 million annually on a permanent basis for the department to pay for increased staff and replace aging equipment.
On Monday, county elections staff began stuffing envelopes for the mail-ballot election.
Ballots are due back to the Missoula County Election's Office by Sept. 23.
The reason the fire district is holding another election only several months after the proposal was killed by less than 150 votes is because of poor voter turnout during the May school election. Only 10 percent of registered voters cast ballots.
Also, some residents inside the district didn't get to vote.
Residents of Lolo who live inside the Missoula Rural Fire District but whose kids attend school in Florence likely didn't weigh in on the district's levy request.
There are more than 200 registered voters living in Precinct 12. Those with children attending school in Florence likely traveled to Ravalli County to cast their ballots in the May school election. The district's levy request was only printed on Missoula County ballots.
These folks would have had to request a ballot from the Missoula County Elections Office.
“That was not a full representation” of the people served by the district, Missoula Rural Fire Chief Curt Belts said.
Belts expects a higher voter turnout in September than in May. The response is typically greater when the election is only by mail, he said.
The district is looking to hire 21 new firefighters, which will enhance protection and medical services in a growing area of Missoula, he said.
Reporter Chelsi Moy can be reached at 523-5260 or at chelsi.moy@missoulian.com.
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