How The Numbers Compare

Since there is so much discussion, I took a couple of hours to pull together some cost comparisons between Ruston and Tacoma:

Police

Tacoma
Ruston lies within Tacoma's Sector 2-4. Sector 2 is roughly South 15th to Sprague Ave. and north. Subsection 2-4 is northwest of about N. 21st and Proctor. According to Tacoma Police Department's web page, there are an average of 6 patrol officers per sector on any given shift. Each officer responds to an average of 18 dispatches and writes 6 reports per shift. The total Tacoma 2009 police budget is $144,989,227 or $738 per citizen.

Ruston
Ruston is situated between N. 49th to 54th and Pearl to Orchard Streets (about 5 square blocks). There is generally 1 officer on patrol at any given time. The department has 8 officer. The number of calls per shift varies greatly, from 0 to 25 with more calls during the summer. Many non-urgent calls are made directly to the office rather than through the 911 system. Many reports are officer-initiated rather than waiting for someone to report a problem, again not tracked through 911. The total Ruston 2009 police budget is $427,699 or $586 per citizen.

Fire

Tacoma
Tacoma Fire is not broken into clear sectors, but the closest fire station to Ruston is Station 14 at N. 41st and Gove (near Jane Clark Park). In the event of an emergency, appropriate equipment and personnel are dispatched depending on the nature of the call. About 80% of all calls are medical emergencies. Tacoma has 5 medical aid vans (6 if it gets busy) to cover all of Tacoma. If they are not available or the call is not an acute emergency, a private ambulance is dispatched. First responders are Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) trained and the aid van/ambulance drivers have a paramedic on board. The total Tacoma 2009 fire budget is $84,360,279 or $416 per citizen. Average response times for Engine 14 to fire calls only in 2008 was 5 minutes, 44 seconds plus time to put on gear.

Ruston
Ruston has a volunteer fire department, where neighbors receive both fire and medical aid training. These trained volunteers respond to emergency calls. Ruston has a 20 person roster, most of whom are EMT trained. The department meets weekly for on-going training. The house next to Town Hall on Winnifred Street serves as a bunkhouse where fire fighters in training at Bates Fire Academy reside to provide additional daytime coverage. While not dedicated only to Ruston, Rural Metro Ambulance has an ambulance stationed in Ruston on the 5200 block of Pearl Street. The total Ruston fire 2009 budget is $41,742 or $56 per citizen. Average response times for all calls in 2008 were 2 minutes, 53 seconds including time to put on gear.

On a side note, a citizen's committee reviewed both the current fire department structure and future needs in a report available here and an additional report here....

Tax Rates

Property
9.7138 per $1,000: Ruston
11.6206 per $1,000: Tacoma

Power
4.03%: Ruston
6.00%: Tacoma

Sewer
4.00%: Ruston
8.00%: Tacoma

Garbage
3.75%: Ruston
8.00%: Tacoma

Natural Gas
None: Ruston
.669%: Tacoma

Water
Unsure: Ruston
8.00%: Tacoma

Cable TV
None: Ruston
8.00%: Tacoma

Telephone
Unsure: Ruston
8.00%: Tacoma

Utility Costs

Power
Ruston:
$0.062 per KWH (multiplier of 10)
plus $10.40 base rate per month
Tacoma:
$0.31081 per KWH for energy use (multiplier of 10)
plus $0.30981 per KWH for delivery (total of $0.062062 per KWH)
plus $5.50 customer charge per month

Garbage (per 60-gallon can)
Ruston:
$19.85 per month
Tacoma:
$45.35 per month

Sewer
Ruston: for 3 person family, March 2009: $45.71 per month
Tacoma: for 2 person family, July-August 2008: $31.71 per month

Storm Water
Ruston: $5.00 per month
Tacoma: $17.25 per month

Water
Tacoma and Ruston presumed to be the same since Tacoma provides water service to the town.