Archive for month: March, 2024

Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue Board of Fire Commissioners will meet March 25 to discuss a resolution to place a fire levy lid lift on the August 6, 2024, primary election ballot. The community is encouraged to attend the meeting at 4 p.m. at the district’s administrative building, 5300 NW Newberry Hill Road, Suite 101.
Revenue from the fire levy is not keeping up with higher call volumes and costs to provide emergency services. Call volumes have increased by 39 percent in the last six years. In 2023, the fire district responded to over 11,300 calls – and the majority of those calls, 68 percent, were for medical emergencies.
“We require additional personnel to keep up with higher call volumes,” Fire Chief Jason Christian said. “In addition, we need to replace aging apparatus to ensure service reliability when responding to calls.”
If approved by voters, the fire levy lid lift will fund:
• Up to six firefighters over the next six years, allowing the fire district to staff both the Lake Symington and Olympic View stations 24 hours a day and reduce response times districtwide
• Replacement of an aging ambulance and refurbish up to three engines – saving taxpayers money as opposed to buying new ones
• Firefighter and paramedic training
• The CARES program to reduce non-emergency calls to 911 and improve service for residents
The fire district prefers to pay for capital items – such as ambulances – through the regular fire levy instead of borrowing money, which costs taxpayers more in interest payments. The fire levy lid lift would continue this cost-saving measure.
The Board is considering asking voters to return the fire levy from $1.34 to $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The $0.16 lid lift would cost an additional $6.67 per month or $80 per year for the owner of a $500,000 home.
Find more information about the levy lid lift at www.ckfr.org. Fire Chief Jason Christian also welcomes your questions at jchristian@ckfr.org and 360-447-3550.