Sandy’s long-running debate over its fire future comes to a head tonight, as residents get a rare chance to put officials on the spot about Measure 3-634.
At 7 p.m., locals can head to the Station 71 Annex on Bruns Avenue for an in-person Q&A on the ballot measure that would dissolve the Sandy Fire District and annex its territory into Clackamas Fire District #1. The session is designed as a straight-ahead question-and-answer forum on staffing, taxes and who will be calling the shots if the annexation goes through. Both Clackamas Fire and Sandy Fire officials are slated to speak as the May 19 election creeps closer.
What’s on the ballot
Measure 3-634 asks voters whether the Sandy Fire District should be dissolved and its territory annexed into Clackamas Fire District #1. The question will appear on the May 19, 2026 primary ballot.
According to Clackamas Fire District, the boards of both districts adopted resolutions and boundary maps and say the annexation could take effect for the 2026–2027 tax year, potentially as soon as June 30, 2026, if voters approve and the county completes the required steps. The packet also notes the districts have been coordinating services under contract as the proposal moved forward.
Why supporters say yes
Supporters argue the change would lock in higher staffing levels and a broader set of services, including 24/7 staffed units and paramedics, while spreading long-term costs across a larger district. They point to promised around-the-clock staffing upgrades at the Sandy station as a key selling point.
The official voters’ pamphlet also outlines an expected shift to Clackamas Fire’s permanent tax rate of roughly $2.40 per $1,000 of assessed value. Pro-Measure 3-634 arguments can be found in the Clackamas County voters’ pamphlet.
Questions residents are asking
Not everyone is sold. Some locals have raised concerns about what happens to existing debt, how much local control Sandy might lose and what the annexation would mean for volunteer roles.
Sandy Fire District’s meeting materials describe a proposed debt-distribution plan intended to limit property owners’ obligations to the district’s permanent rate at the time of annexation. The board has also amended resolutions to correct statutory citations as part of the legal process. Those details appear in a packet posted on the district website: Sandy Fire District.
How to attend
The Q&A is scheduled for in-person attendance at Station 71 Annex (17459 Bruns Ave.), which Clackamas Fire lists as a community room set up for public meetings. The department has also promoted the session on social media, including a Facebook reel and an event page with more logistical details.
If you cannot make it tonight, officials have suggested checking the departments’ websites after the meeting for information on any hybrid access or a possible recording.
Legal and next steps
If voters approve Measure 3-634, the Clackamas County board must enter an order to finalize the annexation, and the Oregon Department of Revenue must accept the legal description and map so the boundary change appears on the tax roll.
The Department of Revenue’s guidance on boundary changes explains that documents have to be filed in “final approved form” for the change to count for the upcoming tax year. Those filings, along with the county’s actions, are among the last steps before any annexation becomes effective.
Ballots for the May 19 primary were scheduled to go out in late April and must be returned or dropped off by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Voting information and the full text of the measure are available in the Clackamas County voters’ pamphlet.
For Sandy residents, tonight’s Q&A is the chance to get into the weeds on all of this before they fill in the bubble.
