(1) All public utilities, as defined in section 61-129, Idaho Code, shall be exempt from taxation under the provisions of this chapter and shall not be entitled to the privileges or protection hereby provided without their consent in writing filed with the clerk of the board of county commissioners. Provided however, the board of fire protection commissioners, may enter into an agreement with a public utility for the purpose of affording the privileges or protection provided by the fire protection district to all, or such portion, of the property of the public utility as may be agreed upon between the parties and upon such terms and conditions as may be mutually agreed upon between the parties to the agreement.
(2)  The board of county commissioners, upon application and recommendation of the board of fire protection commissioners, may, by an ordinance enacted by not later than the second Monday of July, exempt all or a portion of the unimproved real property within the district from taxation, and may exempt all or a portion of the taxable personal property within the district from taxation. Any ordinance of the board of county commissioners granting an exemption from taxation under the provisions of this section must provide that each category of property is treated uniformly. Notice of intent to adopt an ordinance which exempts unimproved real property shall be provided to property owners of record in substantially the same manner as required in section 67-6511(2)(b), Idaho Code, as if the ordinance were making a zoning district boundary change.