19-3612e. Tax levies for fire districts in Reno and Sedgwick counties. (a) The governing body of Reno county fire district No. 2 and the governing body of Sedgwick county fire district No. 1, both created under K.S.A. 19-3601 et seq., and amendments thereto, shall have the power to levy a tax in an amount to be determined by such governing body upon all taxable tangible property in the district for the purpose of paying:

(1) Compensation to fire district employees;

(2) The expenses of operating and maintaining the fire district;

(3) compensation to volunteer members of the fire district for fighting fires, responding to emergencies or attending meetings;

(4) pay for the acquisition, installation or maintenance of one or more fire hydrants, or similar devices for fighting fires, including necessary equipment, services or supplies related thereto.

The acquisition, installation and maintenance shall be subject to the mutual agreement of the governing body of the fire district and the governing body of the rural water district which owns, operates or maintains the water line on which the fire hydrant, or other similar device for fighting fires, is to be installed; and

(5) other legal expenses of the fire district.

(b) Whenever the governing body of the fire district determines it is necessary to increase the amount levied in the next preceding year, the governing body shall give notice of its intent to increase such levy by adopting a resolution which states the amount currently levied and the amount proposed to be levied. The resolution shall be published once each week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the fire district. If within 30 days after the last publication, a petition signed by not less than 5% of the qualified electors in the fire district is filed in the office of the county election officer requesting an election thereon no levy in an amount in excess of the amount levied in the next preceding year shall be made unless the question of the levy shall be submitted to and approved by a majority of the voters of the fire district voting at an election called by the governing body. Such election shall be called and held in the manner provided under the provisions of K.S.A. 10-120, and amendments thereto.

History: L. 1982, ch. 108, § 1; L. 1986, ch. 111, § 1; L. 2002, ch. 150, § 3; L. 2004, ch. 26, § 3; July 1.