The Columbian, Vancouver, Wash.
(TNS)
Jul. 12—As Clark County cools after an early summer heat wave, fire chiefs across the region are asking voters to direct their attention to several fire and emergency services funding measures on next month's election ballot.
The packed Aug. 6 primary includes eight different levy and bond measures for Clark County fire districts and communities. Many are asking voters for levy lid lifts leaders say are necessary to avoid staffing cuts amid rising call volumes and operation costs.
"Increase in benefits in 2024 were 7.9 percent, most of that being medical premiums. That might not sound like a lot, but that's the biggest portion of our budget," Clark County Fire District 3 Chief Scott Sorenson said. "Salaries are right around 63 percent of revenue and benefits are 19 percent, so that's a pretty significant hit."
Each year, fire districts in Washington are only able to raise their revenues collected from levies by 1 percent. That rate, many district leaders have said, has been quickly outpaced by inflation.
Fire District 3, which encompasses a large swath of land in central Clark County including Battle Ground, Brush Prairie and Hockinson, saw a similar levy lid lift attempt fail last year. Since then, the district has had to temporarily close some fire stations after losing staff.
This year, Sorenson said he has tried to increase the sense of urgency for additional funding, especially after the closure of Larch Corrections Center near Yacolt, which for six decades had provided inmates trained by the state Department of Natural Resources to fight wildfires.
In 2023, Larch crews responded to 46 wildfires — more than double the total in 2022.
Given the heat and dry conditions already observed this summer, Sorenson said he's worried about the rest of the summer. His crews and other local agencies will tackle any wildfires that pop up, but the rest of their service area will be challenged.
"What that means is we're probably going to be on scene at incidents longer and that takes us away from other things, spreading our resources thinner," he said.
The list of all funding measures on the Aug. 6 ballot is below. Collections for each measure would begin in 2025.
— Fire District 3: District 3 is asking voters to lift its annual levy to $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value for five years. Voters last approved a levy for the district in 2017 at a rate of $1.42 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Due to the way taxes are calculated, that rate has since dropped to $1.16.
If passed, the levy would ensure that each of the district's five stations have 24-hour staffing. It would also allow the district to purchase a new ambulance and add paramedic-certified firefighters to its staff; Sorenson said medical calls make up about 70 percent of the district's calls.
— Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue: This district, which serves northwest Clark County, Ridgefield, La Center and Woodland, is asking to lift its annual levy to $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Currently, voters in district boundaries are paying $1.26 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
Like its neighboring district to the east, the levy lift would help the district address rising personnel costs.
The lift would also allow the district to purchase two fire engines and a water tender, as well as complete the construction of a partially built fire station in Woodland, and initiate the construction of a new fire station in west Ridgefield.
— Clark County Fire District 6: The fire district serving Felida, Hazel Dell and parts of Salmon Creek is also asking voters to lift its levy lid to $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value. As it stands, voters in the district are paying $1.15 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
If passed, the levy would help the district address rising personnel costs and make facility upgrades across its service area.
— Clark County Fire District 13: This district serves Yacolt and rural areas in northeast Clark County. Leaders are asking voters to lift its levy lid to $1.35 per assessed property value to help cover personnel costs and make safety repairs to fire stations. Currently, voters in the district are paying a rate of $1.10 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
— East County Fire and Rescue: This district serving rural areas north of Camas and Washougal is asking voters to lift its levy lid to $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Voters are paying approximately $1.08 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
The new revenue would fund four full-time firefighter positions across two fire stations on either side of the Washougal River, as well as replace and repair some district equipment.
— Clark County Emergency Services District: This district, which operates North Country Emergency Medical Services, is seeking a one-year, $3.6 million levy. The estimated cost is $1.30 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Proceeds would fund maintenance, operation and staff salaries for an estimated three years.
— City of Washougal: Washougal is asking voters to approve a $15.7 million general obligation bond to replace Fire Station 43. Councilors estimated in a meeting earlier this year the bond would amount to an estimated rate of 19 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. The bond would have a maximum 29-year repayment span.
— Town of Yacolt: The town council is asking voters to approve a one-year, $271,048 levy, amounting to an approximate tax rate of $1.30 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
If passed, the levy would fund maintenance, operation and staff salaries for the North Country Emergency Medical Service for three years.
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