Fire District 3 wants lid lifted on property tax levy

July 19--Clark County Fire District 3 is asking voters to lift a lid on a property tax levy to hire two firefighter/paramedics and to cover increases to regular costs.

Proposition 1 asks voters in the fire district to keep the current levy, $1.42 per $1,000 of assessed property value, at the same rate for 2017. For example, if the value of a home in Fire District 3 increases by $25,000 in assessed value, taxes for that property will increase by $35 for the year, or $2.92 per month. State law allows taxing districts to raise their tax revenues by only 1 percent, but Fire District 3 Chief Steve Wrightson said property value in the fire district is expected to increase by 8 to 12 percent. If approved, Proposition 1 would supercede that 1 percent cap and allow the fire district to capture more revenue.

"We're trying to provide the best service we can with the available money and do it at a responsible cost," Assistant Chief Scott Sorenson said.

Fire District 3 serves about 40,000 people in the areas of Hockinson, Heisson, Venersborg, parts of Brush Prairie and the city of Battle Ground.

The district's 37 full-time emergency responders work out of four stations: three that are staffed 24 hours a day and a third that is staffed 12 hours per day. A fifth station houses resident volunteers and is staffed more sporadically.

Part of the reason behind the levy request comes from a recent upgrade in ratings.

In 2015, the fire district improved its rating from the Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau insurance classification to a Class 4, which Sorenson said lowered insurance rates for homeowners.

Sorenson said that the feedback they got through the rating process indicated that Fire District 3 was short staffed when compared to the industry standard. The levy, he said, would allow the agency to hire two more firefighter/paramedics to solve that.

"If we're not able to keep up with the demand, then it's possible the rating could go to a five, which would in turn increase the insurance rates," Sorenson said.

The remainder of the levy funds will go toward keeping up with growing costs of regular expenses, which include equipment repair and replacement, maintenance of facilities and increases in personnel costs, Sorenson said.

"The costs go up faster than 1 percent a year, so it becomes challenging to keep up with that," he said.

Sorenson said that the recent contract with the city of Battle Ground to provide coverage is not the reason for the levy request, adding that the contract requires the city to pay for the service. If it's approved, Battle Ground residents will pay a fee equivalent to the levy.

Since 2006, which is when the agency last asked voters to pass a levy, the agency has made changes to conserve resources.

For example, Fire District 3 now uses sport utility vehicles for medical calls, which reduces response time and is less expensive. The agency said it has less administrative overhead than other comparable organizations.

Ballots have been mailed to district voters and must be returned or postmarked by Aug. 2.

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