Board of Fire Commissioners passes fire levy lid lift resolution

The Board of Fire Commissioners passed a resolution to place a fire levy lid lift on the August 6, 2024, primary election ballot. The lid lift would fund additional firefighters to respond to higher call volumes and replace aging apparatus.
Call volumes have increased by 39 percent in the past six years. Last year, the fire district responded to 11,384 calls – of which 68 percent were for medical emergencies (EMS). Revenue from the district’s current fire levy is not keeping up with higher call volumes and costs to provide service.
Additional firefighters and paramedics are needed to maintain the level and quality of emergency services the community requires. Some emergency apparatus has also reached the end of its usable life and needs to be replaced 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 district to staff two additional stations (Lake Symington and Olympic View) 24 hours a day and reduce response times across the district
• Replace an ambulance that has reached the end of its usable life
• Refurbish up to three engines, saving taxpayers up to $2 million as opposed to buying new ones
• Improve firefighter and paramedic training programs
The lid lift would also fund the CARES program to reduce non-emergency calls to 911 and improve service for residents. CARES is a program that helps assist community members with issues before they become emergencies.
The fire district is asking voters to return the fire levy from $1.34 per $1,000 of assessed property value to $1.50, which is the levy rate voters approved in 2019. The $0.16 lid lift would cost the owner of a $500,000 home an additional $6.67 per month or $80 per year.
Find more information at www.ckfr.org. Fire Chief Jason Christian also welcomes your questions at jchristian@ckfr.org and 360-447-3550.