DEER PARK, Wash. — The Board of Fire Commissioners has passed a resolution to place a fire levy lid lift on the ballot for the upcoming August 6, 2024, primary election.
The proposed lid lift aims to address the surging call volumes for Spokane County Fire District 4 (SCFD4), which have increased by 24 percent over the last three years. January saw an all-time high of 409 calls, setting a record for the month. With more calls pouring in, SCFD4 said the current revenue from the fire levy falls short of meeting the escalating costs of providing emergency services.
"Costs to deliver emergency services increase by an average of 7.5 percent each year, while state law limits our revenue increase to just 1 percent annually," noted Fire Chief Bill Neckels. "This discrepancy hampers our ability to meet the growing needs of the community."
If approved, the proposed lid lift will enable funding for critical initiatives, including additional personnel for emergency response, replacing aging fire engines, and renovating Station 47 in Green Bluff to enhance capacity during wildfire seasons.
"These projects not only aim to improve response times but also to bolster service capacity across the district," emphasized Neckels. "Importantly, they will be financed through cash, avoiding the burden of interest payments on taxpayers."
Since voters approved a fire levy rate of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value in 2021, the rate has fallen to $1.16. The fire district is seeking a lid lift of $0.34 to restore the levy rate to its previous level.
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