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Fact-checking ad for the Spokane Valley Fire levy

An ad in favor of a special election proposition has hit the airwaves.

Spokane County will have a special election on February 12. Voters will be asked to weigh in on a number of ballot measures, all of which are named Proposition 1.

The Proposition 1 in Spokane Valley pertains to the fire department there. It will renew that district's maintenance and operations levy for another four years.

An ad in favor of the measure recently aired on KREM, so we decided to fact-check it. 

CLAIM: "Services provided by the Spokane Valley Fire Department have changed over the years. We still fight fires. But now 86% of all calls are medical."

FACT: According to a breakdown provided by the department, this is true.

In 2018, the SVFD responded to 1,784 fire calls, 15,308 EMS call, and 646 calls classified as "other." That equates to percentages of 10.06 percent for fire, 86.30 percent for EMS and 3.64 percent for other.

One other note here: the TV ad states in an on-screen graphic that the department responded to over 18,000 calls. That's not quite accurate; the actual number is just under 18,000 according to the department, at 17,738.

CLAIM: "Our ten station locations ensure that help is only moments away, and the maintenance and operations levy makes this possible."

FACT: This is accurate. A majority of the department's budget comes from the taxes provided in the M&O levy. 

According to Chief Bryan Collins, without that money, several stations would have to close. He said the department would have to operate with just four locations, as opposed to the current ten.

CLAIM: "It's not a new tax. It replaces the expiring levy."

FACT: This is true, but potentially misleading. It's not a new tax but it is a tax increase.

The existing M&O levy, passed in 2015, expires at the end of 2019. This proposition would extend a new levy through 2023, another four years.

However, the new levy would be at an increased rate.

Right now the maximum levy, or property tax, is $1.80 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Although, the department isn't actually collecting the maximum right now.

If passed, Prop 1 would make the maximum rate $1.90, a ten cent increase. That would be the rate for 2020 and 2021. The rate in 2021 would go up to $1.97, and in 2023 it would fall back to $1.88.

CLAIM: Fifty-four percent of the SVFD budget comes from the M&O levy.

FACT: This was true in 2018, according to the department's full budget and property tax data from the county assessor's office. The 2019 numbers are slightly different.

WHO MADE THE AD:

The end screen on the spot has a banner reading "Paid for by Citizens for Fire and EMS."

That's a political action committee formed to support the proposition.

It's raised about $15,000, largely contributions from local firefighters.

REQUIRED TO PASS:

Spokane County voters should have received their ballots in the mail. Three-fifths, or 60%, of the voters in the Spokane Valley Fire Department's district will need to approve the measure on February 12 in order for it to pass.

RELATED: Voters' Guide to Spokane February special election

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