Updated June 14, 2018Two Warren County fire protection districts are asking voters to approve property tax increases in August.Wright City Fire Protection District and Warrenton Fire Protection District have submitted property tax proposals to appear on election ballots Aug. 7.Central to both tax proposals is the desire to staff more professional firefighters than current tax rates can support. Historically, the fire districts have relied on a mix of volunteer and professional members.Two other tax-related proposals will appear on ballots for a relatively small number of Warren County residents. Hawk Point Fire Protection District is asking for approval of a bond issue, and the village of Pendleton has proposed a local sales tax.Each of the four tax proposals is independent of the others. The multiple fire protection districts in Warren County are all their own separate political entities, outside the control of local cities or the county government. They are also separate from other emergency services, such as local ambulance districts.Only voters in Pendleton would see multiple local tax measures on their election ballots. The village is within the boundary of Warrenton Fire Protection District.Wright City FireWright City Fire is returning to voters with a scaled-back request after a proposed property tax increase and bond issue were rejected in April.The latest tax proposal is a property tax increase of 34 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. The fire district is no longer pursuing a bond issue.“We have heard the community feedback from the April ballot initiative and we have scaled back our request to provide for only the most critical needs to protect our community and our firefighters,” said Fire Board President Rudy Jovanovic.The added revenue would preserve the jobs of six firefighters who were hired using federal grant money that will soon expire, officials said.It also would be used to purchase and replace vital equipment, such as breathing tanks and radios, and could also be used for maintaining facilities and training staff, according to the ballot language.Warrenton FireWarrenton Fire is also coming to voters with a property tax increase. The district is seeking an additional 37 cents per $100 assessed valuation.Fire Chief Mike Owenby said the major purpose for the funds would be to increase staff and improve emergency coverage.The district currently keeps a three-person crew on duty 24/7, with three rotating shifts.Owenby said the tax increase would be used to add a second full-time crew, stationed at a different base. To cover each shift, that would mean hiring nine additional firefighters.Retaining current staff is also a priority, Owenby said.Building maintenance, equipment and training are also listed as uses for the funds in the official ballot language.Hawk Point FireHawk Point Fire is asking voters to approve a $1 million bond issue. Hawk Point is in Lincoln County, but the fire district extends south into Warren County.A bond issue is a form of loan backed up by a district’s tax base. Approving the bond issue includes giving the fire district permission to increase property taxes in order to pay off the bonds.Fire Chief Mark Seigler said the bond would be used to purchase three fire vehicles and two sets of rescue equipment used to extricate people trapped in vehicles.He said the district anticipates adding a 17-cent property tax levy to pay off the bond over a 20-year period. The estimated cost for a $100,000 home is about $32 per year, Seigler said.The ballot language on the bond proposal would also allow funds to be used “for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, renovating, improving, maintaining and equipping fire stations and related facilities,” as well as equipment or vehicle purchases.Village of PendletonThe village of Pendleton is proposing a sales tax measure. Residents are being asked to approve a local, 1 percent sales tax within the boundaries of the village.A representative of the village could not be reached before press time.Taxes