Sun City Fire board says treatment fee necessary as calls increase

As members of the board of directors of the Sun City Fire District, we are proud to serve our community with a firm commitment to public safety and fiscal responsibility.  We recognize most of us are on a fixed income and, as such, we work diligently to keep costs low.  However, as a district, we face some significant challenges. 

Unlike cities that have access to sales taxes, development fees, or other revenue sources, fire districts like ours rely almost entirely on property taxes.  During the past decade, legislative changes — like Proposition 117, property valuation caps, and expanded property exemptions — have steadily reduced our revenue base. Today, Sun City Fire still hasn’t recovered to pre-2009 funding levels.

Additionally, more properties within our district — including hospitals, senior communities, recreation centers, and other nonprofit facilities — are tax-exempt.  While these institutions provide important services, their growth has further reduced our tax revenue even as emergency demand increases.

At the same time, our funding has not been able to keep up with the demand for the emergency needs of our aging population.  The Sun City Fire and Medical Department responded to more than 13,000 emergency calls in Sun City and Youngtown last year.

Of those, more than 4,000 required on-scene assistance, like lift assists or basic medical care — but did not result in transport to a hospital.  That’s more than 11 non-transport calls every single day. 

These calls still require a full emergency response — trained professionals, equipment, and vehicles — yet they fall outside traditional insurance reimbursement models.  As demand grows, this places significant strain on our crews and our resources.  Despite serving an aging population with rising medical needs, we continue operating with just four fire trucks — the same number as more than 30 years ago.  Each truck now responds to more than 3,000 calls annually, well above national thresholds that would indicate for expanding service.

After studying this issue, analyzing the budget, and exploring best practices, the board of directors voted for the department to implement a Treatment in Place Fee of $315.80 for non-transport calls where medical care or assistance is provided starting in July.  Certainly, with all financial decisions, it was a tough one, but it’s the right one to secure our future and ensure that we can continue to keep response times low.

First and foremost, this is not a new concept — the fee mirrors the existing fee that Sun City Fire and Medical Department has charged for many years when medications (such as dextrose or Narcan) are administered on scene.  This program covers things like lift assists, medical checks, and other home care — think of it like a “house call” from back in the day.  It also aligns with the growing trend we are seeing for similar services in cities like San Jose, California; Decatur, Illinois; El Cajon, California; and Litchfield Park.

Our goal is not to discourage people from calling 911. We will always respond, no matter what. But we must address the growing number of calls that require time and resources without a transport, and without the ability to recover costs. 

The Treatment in Place fee allows us to reinvest in local emergency services.  Revenue from this fee will:

• Help hire more firefighters and paramedics
• Maintain fast response times for serious emergencies
• Support new community initiatives like fall prevention programs

This is not a punitive measure.  It’s a fair and responsible way to protect our emergency response system and ensures that help arrives when residents need it most.

We are proud to serve this community and remain committed to transparency, safety, and smart planning.  The Treatment in Place fee is one step toward keeping our services strong today and in the future.

Please continue to call 911 when you need help.  We will always be there.

Learn more: at www.scfmd.az.gov

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