Rollins Volunteer
Fire Department
2026 Mill Levy Increase
COMMUNITY INFORMATION GUIDE
N E I G H B O R S H E L P I N G N E I G H B O R S
ROLLINS HAS GROWN, AND THE NEEDS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAVE GROWN AS WELL.
A Growing Community
Brings Greater Demands
Over the past decade, the Rollins Fire District has grown in both size and
activity. More homes, more people, more traffic and increased wildfire risk
have all contributed to a significant increase in emergency calls.
Our district boundaries have expanded
over the last decade and now cover
approximately 11 square miles. Significant
new-home construction has also increased
the number of properties we protect.
Our population increases
substantially during the
summer months, creating
added demand for
emergency services at the
same time when traffic,
recreation and wildfire risk
are at their highest.
Emergency calls have more
than doubled over the past
five years, and 2026 call
volume is tracking
approximately 20% higher
than last year.
Traffic on Highway 93 near
Rollins has nearly doubled
over the past 20 years,
bringing substantially more
vehicles through the center of
our district.
More People. More Homes.
More Traffic. More Calls.
ROLLINS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT · 2026 MILL LEVY INFORMATION 2
A LARGER DISTRICT A GROWING SEASONAL
POPULATION
EMERGENCY CALLS
CONTINUE TO RISE
MORE HIGHWAY 93
TRAFFIC
OUR ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY HAS EXPANDED
Much More Than a
Fire Department
As our community has grown, so has the need for a broader range of
emergency services. Today, Rollins volunteers respond to many types of
calls, not just fires.
Rollins responds to every medical call in the
district. Volunteers can begin assessment and
patient care while Lakeside or Polson
ambulance crews are still responding. That
makes medical training, equipment and
dependable responder availability an essential
part of our mission.
Highway 93 runs directly through our district.
Vehicle crashes can require traffic control,
scene stabilization, patient access and
extrication, often in dangerous roadside
conditions. Rescue has become a regular part
of what our volunteers must be prepared to do.
Rollins sits in the wildland-urban interface,
surrounded by forest, grassland and homes.
Hotter, drier conditions and increasingly
challenging fire behavior make rapid initial
attack, capable brush equipment and continual
wildland training increasingly important.
Fire. Medical Response. Rescue. Wildland.
One volunteer department must be ready for all of it.
ROLLINS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT · 2026 MILL LEVY INFORMATION 3
MEDICAL EMERGENCIES
HIGHWAY 93 ACCIDENTS & RESCUE
CHANGING WILDLAND FIRE
REAL PEOPLE. REAL COMMITMENT. A STRONGER, SAFER COMMUNITY.
Volunteers Are the Heart of
Rollins Fire
Neighbors Serving Neighbors, 24 Hours a Day
Rollins Fire is built around 21 volunteer members who respond when their
community needs them. They receive no salary for their service.
When the pager sounds, our volunteers step away from work, family, sleep
and personal commitments to respond. They also give substantial personal
time throughout the year to train for medical emergencies, structure fires,
vehicle accidents, rescue and wildland fire.
Rescue When It’s Needed Protecting Our Forests On the Scene for Our
Community
What the Levy Would Support
The proposed levy provides additional resources for the volunteers
who provide the service, including training, protective equipment,
communications, medical and rescue equipment, reliable apparatus,
and the support needed to keep the department ready to respond to
the many types of emergencies in our community.
21 Volunteers. One Community.
A Safer, Stronger Rollins, Together.
ROLLINS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT · 2026 MILL LEVY INFORMATION 4
A FUNDING MODEL BUILT FOR A DIFFERENT TIME
The Department Has Changed.
The Funding Has Not.
For more than 40 years, Rollins Fire has operated under a funding model
created for a smaller community and a much narrower fire-service mission.
As our community, call volume and responsibilities have grown, the
resources available to operate the department have not kept pace. The
current model no longer provides the resources needed for today’s level of
service.
Rollins Fire Station – Built 1996
A Different Era
The former station is a reminder of how much
Rollins Fire has changed. The operating funding
structure dates from an era of fewer homes,
fewer calls and a much narrower mission.
WHAT TODAY’S BUDGET DOES NOT ALLOW FOR
There is no full-time leader
responsible for the department’s
day-to-day readiness. Training,
firefighter development, apparatus
readiness, volunteer recruitment,
emergency planning, certifications,
grants and long-term planning all fall
to volunteers already responding to
calls and attending training.
Critical responsibilities are handled
when volunteer time allows.
Funding for volunteer equipment,
personal protective equipment (PPE)
and ongoing training is limited,
restricting the resources available to
support members and keep them
prepared to respond safely and
effectively.
Our fire apparatus is aging, and there
are no dedicated funds to replace
trucks and critical equipment when
they reach the end of their usable life.
Many volunteers have full-time jobs
and may not be available during
normal business hours. The current
budget does not provide dedicated
daytime staffing when volunteer
availability is often lowest.
A More Sustainable Volunteer Fire Department
The levy would provide the operating resources needed to address these
gaps, support our volunteers, plan for the future and maintain
dependable emergency response.
ROLLINS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT · 2026 MILL LEVY INFORMATION 5
NO FULL-TIME LEADERSHIP VOLUNTEER SUPPORT, PPE &
TRAINING
AN AGING FLEET
CONSISTENT DAYTIME RESPONSE
INVESTING IN READINESS. SUPPORTING OUR VOLUNTEERS. STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITY.
What the Levy Would Provide
The Resources Needed for a Stronger, More Sustainable Volunteer Fire
Department
The proposed levy would provide the operating resources needed to
address today’s challenges and create a more sustainable volunteer fire
department, one that can support our members, maintain and replace
critical equipment, provide leadership and coordination, and be ready to
respond to the needs of our community now and in the future.
1 FULL-TIME CHIEF / LEADERSHIP
A full-time Chief would provide the department with
dedicated leadership, training coordination, recruiting,
daytime coverage, grant management, regulatory
compliance, record keeping, long-term planning, and
community outreach. This would improve readiness,
strengthen operations and help ensure consistent
response for our community. The Chief would also
manage the documentation, certifications and training
standards needed to pursue improvements in the
department’s fire protection rating.
2 VEHICLE & EQUIPMENT RESERVE
The levy would establish a sustainable reserve
for the life-cycle replacement of our fire
apparatus and major equipment. Several of our
trucks are more than 25 years old, and the
current budget provides no dedicated funds to
replace aging vehicles and critical equipment
when they reach the end of their usable life.
3 ADDITIONAL VOLUNTEER SUPPORT, PPE & TRAINING
The levy would provide additional resources for the
protective equipment (PPE), training, medical and rescue
equipment, communications and other essential
resources our volunteers need to respond safely and
effectively. The current budget limits what we can
provide, and additional funding would better support the
men and women who serve our community.
A Potential Additional Benefit: Fire Protection Rating
The levy would give Rollins Fire resources to work toward an
improved fire protection rating through full-time management and
reporting, stronger training and response capability, and planned
replacement of apparatus and equipment.
Why It May Matter to Property Owners
Fire protection ratings are one factor insurers may consider when
evaluating property risk and premiums. An improved rating cannot
guarantee lower premiums or continued coverage, but it may improve
our community’s insurance position over time.
ROLLINS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT · 2026 MILL LEVY INFORMATION 6
WHERE THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING GOES
Current Funding vs.
Proposed Levy Increase
$60,000
FULL-TIME CHIEF / EMT + $20,000
VEHICLE & EQUIPMENT
RESERVE + $11,000
OPERATIONS, PPE,
VOLUNTEER & TRAINING
SUPPORT
=
$91,000
IN ADDITIONAL ANNUAL FUNDING
THE DETAIL
ANNUAL BUDGET CURRENT WITH LEVY
Insurance $18,000 $18,000
Dept. Operations & Facilities $23,000 $25,000
Equipment Ops & Maintenance $15,000 $16,000
PPE $2,500 $6,000
Volunteer Support & Training $26,500 $31,000
Vehicle & Equipment Reserve $0 $20,000
Full-Time Chief / EMT $0 $60,000
Total $85,000 $176,000
WHAT WOULD IT COST YOU?
HOME MARKET VALUE ADDITIONAL / YEAR ADDITIONAL / MONTH
$100,000 $11.96 / year $1.00 / month
$300,000 $35.88 / year $2.99 / month
$600,000 $85.92 / year $7.16 / month
Estimated additional property tax. Final amounts depend on taxable value and official mill calculations.
A Clear Plan for the Additional Funding
Leadership. Equipment. Volunteer Support.
ROLLINS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT · 2026 MILL LEVY INFORMATION 7
Rollins Volunteer Fire Department
ROLLINS RURAL FIRE DISTRICT
Mill Levy Ballot Information
Own Property in the Rollins Fire District but Not Registered to
Vote Here?
You can vote in the Rollins Rural Fire District mill levy election. Simply
request a ballot from Lake County Elections.
Scan the QR code for the required form and simple
instructions on our website.
Important: Request Your Ballot Early
Your completed ballot must be received by Lake County Elections no
later than 8:00 p.m. on November 3, 2026. Postmarks do not count.
Please request your ballot well in advance to allow enough time to
receive, complete and return it before the deadline.
FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION OR QUESTIONS
Greg LeFevre
Trustee, Rollins Rural Fire District
Board
406-300-2422
rollinsfire.org
OR CONTACT LAKE COUNTY
ELECTIONS
Toni Kramer, Election
Administrator
406-883-7268
tkramer@lakemt.gov
Election Day: November 3, 2026
2026 MILL LEVY COMMUNITY INFORMATION GUIDE