What’s on the ballot? Measures 185 & 186 – A New Fire District – Tillamook Bay Fire & Resuce Rural Fire Protection District – Frequently Asked Questions

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A Tillamook Bay Fire & Rescue Rural Fire Protection District would unify the Tillamook Fire District and Bay City Fire Department into one district.

Coming to the 2026 May ballot for permanent residents served by fire organizations in the Bay City and Tillamook areas.

Increased staffing: The creation of a new district will increase the number of paid-staff on duty during the day that supports a volunteer crew for night responses.
Provides Long-Term Sustainability: A new district and tax rate would bring in $2.46 million annually. This funding will provide reliable gear and apparatus for years to come.
Unified training: A crew of firefighters receiving a standard set of trainings will increase efficiency for the district at large.

Tillamook Bay Fire & Rescue Rural District, Measure 185 & 186 FAQs

What will this measure do?

Each former fire organization (Tillamook Fire District and Bay City Fire Department) would dissolve and create one, NEW district that would serve approximately 18,385 permanent residents in the Tillamook and Bay City areas.

What would the tax rate be?

A new district would replace any existing fire tax rate with a new tax rate of $1.49 per $1,000 assessed property value for Tillamook and Bay City property owners.

This new tax rate could generate $2.46 million annually for district operations.

 

How would the tax rate change?

Tillamook property owners are currently paying $0.69 per $1,000 assessed property value. This rate was created in 1993.

Bay City property owners are currently paying $1.80 per $1,000 assessed property value. This rate was created as a five-year levy in 2022 and is set to expire in 2027.

What will the tax rate go towards?

District operations for Tillamook Bay Fire & Rescue Rural Fire Protection including: ​

  • Staffing
  • Training
  • Upgrades (when necessary) to reliable fire gear and apparatus
  • Long-term sustainability for the district overall without coming back to the voters for years to come

How long will the tax rate be in place?

Indefinitely or until the district proposes a tax change to the voters.

Who will oversee the new district?

A Tillamook Bay Fire & Rescue Rural Fire Protection District would operate under the direction of a new board of directors, elected by voters.

​Who will vote for the measure?

Voting residents currently served by Tillamook Fire District including those in:

Tillamook

Cape Meares

Idaville

Juno Hill

Trask

Wilson

Fairview

South Prairie

Bewley Creek

Pleasant Valley

AND

Voting residents currently served by the Bay City Fire Department in Bay City, Oregon.

 

What will be on the ballot?

Tillamook voters will see two questions on their ballot:

  • Measure 185: To dissolve the existing Tillamook Fire District
  • Measure 186: For the creation of a new fire district

Bay City voters will only see one question on their ballot:

  • Measure 186: For the creation of a new fire district

(Bay City City Council has already passed a resolution to dissolve the Bay City Fire Department in the event of the creation of the new Tillamook Bay Fire & Rescue District.)​​

When is the election?

May 19, 2026