The leaders of Wright City Fire Protection District have resolved that they will return to voters in August to ask again for a 17-cent property tax increase.The district’s board of directors voted 4-0, with President Rudy Jovanovic absent, to place a tax increase of 17 cents per $100 of assessed property valuation on the August ballot.It’s a tense moment for the district, which faces the prospect of laying off half of its professional firefighters after several previous propositions were rejected. But recent interactions with the public have inspired hope that enough supporters will turn out in August to change that outcome.The tax proposal would increase the district’s levy from 41.26 cents to 58.26 cents per $100 assessed valuation. For a $200,000 home, that would mean an additional $65 per year.At issue are the jobs of six firefighters hired with a federal grant that expired in February. The fire district’s board of directors approved $250,000 in reserve spending to keep those crew members on staff through the end of this year. Losing them could mean having as few as two firefighters on shift at a time.“We can’t sacrifice (the safety of) the community. Losing half our staff is not an option,” said board of directors member Chris Kellner. “In a fire, seconds can matter between life or death. It is imperative that (the tax) passes to preserve the jobs to ensure the protection we have.”Kellner said with only two firefighters on a truck, Wright City responders would have to wait for assistance from other fire agencies before entering a burning building.This is the fourth effort by Wright City Fire to seek a tax increase in the past two years. The amount of the tax propositions dropped after the first two attempts, as the district eliminated funding for equipment, vehicles and construction from its proposals.During a public meeting May 16, the board debated whether it should seek a smaller tax increase than the most recent attempt in April. But member Justin Fears replied that doing so would mean any future cost increase for health care, cost of living or replacing vital equipment, would put the fire district in the exact same position, and likely mean another tax on the ballot within just a few years.“We were so close last time. We just need a few more people at the polls. ... This one has to work,” Fears commented.The fire district missed its previous 17-cent tax by a margin of 108 votes in April, with fewer than 1,400 voters participating. Over 7,100 voters live in the fire district.In continuing to seek the tax increase, board member Mike Gantner said the district has “committed to providing the best possible service, not with two firefighters assigned to the truck, but with four firefighters. The safety for all is imperative.”Public wants to helpThe difference for this proposal could be members of the public who have volunteered to help grow support for a tax increase. District leaders said that enthusiasm encouraged them to put the 17 cent proposal back on the ballot.About 20 local residents attended the board of directors meeting May 16. Many said they wanted the previous ballot proposal in April to pass, and that their neighbors simply weren’t informed about what the consequences could be if the fire district doesn’t receive more funding.When board directors said the tax proposal would depend on volunteers helping educate the community, several people committed on the spot to making that effort.Wright City Mayor Dan Rowden, who was at the meeting, said he personally supports the tax proposal (although the city government has no official stance).“Nobody likes more taxes, but the reality is it’s our community,” Rowden said. “I care, when I dial 911, if that red truck shows up and it’s got a full staff on it. ... If you live here, you ought to support here.”Fire Chief Ron MacKnight said it energized members of the fire district to hear from people willing to campaign for the district.“The community members in attendance spoke loud and clear, as have others,” MacKnight said. “It is imperative that the citizens learn the urgency of those needs and then, more importantly, vote.”Wright City Fire Protection District logo