Meeting notices and agendas will be posted on this website as soon as they are available.  They will also be distributed via email by the Hidden Valley, Sabino Mountain, and Sabino Town & Country Estates homeowners associations.  Individuals may also request to be on an email distribution list by emailing alterpeople@mac.com.  Information on how the Arizona Open Meeting Law applies to agencies of the state and its political subdivisions can be found here.

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The Hidden Valley Fire District was created in 1996 upon approval by the Pima County Board of Supervisors.  The purpose of the District is to provide member residents with affordable fire protection and related services, such as:

 

• Paramedic (i.e. advanced life support) emergency response

• Fire emergency response

• Search and rescue

• Fire prevention services

• Fire cause determinations and investigation

• Enforcement of applicable regulations and local fire codes

• Community information and education services

• Venomous snake removal

 

The District is a special taxing district created under Arizona Revised Statutes Title 48, Chapter 5 (Fire Districts).  The District is governed by three, non-partisan, uncompensated board members elected at large by registered voters within the District.  Board members are elected for alternating four-year terms.  When there are vacancies on the Board, they can be filled by appointees of the Pima County Board of Supervisors.

 

The District establishes tax rates on an annual basis.  The annual tax can be found on your Pima County Property Tax Statement.  Aside from some minor legal and administrative expenses, the tax revenues pay for a contract the District has with Rural Metro to provide the services listed above.  Prior to formation of the District, property owners were responsible for purchasing individual subscriptions for Rural Metro services or paying for such services (at a much higher cost) after being rendered by Rural Metro.

 

Below are some of the benefits realized through the District:

 

• Twenty percent of District funds are provided by the State through the fire district assistance tax.

• As a result of negotiating a neighborhood-wide service agreement, the cost of the Rural Metro contract, on a per property basis, is less than what it would be under an individual payment model.

• Because the District tax is included in your property tax statement, it qualifies as a deduction on your federal tax return.

• Some property insurance companies provide a discount if you reside within a fire district.

 

Emergency medical service is provided to anybody within the district, but Rural Metro will bill Medicare, third party payers, or patients for ambulance transportation to the hospital.  Ambulance rates are regulated in the State of Arizona by the Department of Health Services.