Northern Douglas County fire district seeks levy increase

Sept. 27--GRAND COULEE -- Firefighters in northern Douglas County are asking voters to raise property taxes so they can update equipment and respond more quickly to fires.

"In the past few years, out areas has been turning more from wildfire-fighting to fighting fires in the urban interface," said Chief Dale Rinker of Douglas County Fire District 3.

The request on the Nov. 8 general election ballot would be the first increase in property taxes that the fire district has sought since it formed in 1942, Rinker said.

The district is asking to lift the levy lid from 67 cents per $1,000 of assessed property valuation to $1 per $1,000. That would bring in about $4,500 more each year, adding to an annual budget now about $22,000. The department is entirely volunteer. Rinker said insurance fees make up about 30 percent of the budget.

In addition to basic needs, the money would help buy more modern fire vehicles, which could respond more quickly to fires, Rinker said. Now, five of the bush trucks are from the 1970s. Others are from the 2000s.

The district covers an area between Chief Joseph Dam and Grand Coulee and south almost to Banks Lake, Rinker said.

Reach Dee Riggs at 509-664-7147 or deeriggs@wenatcheeworld.com.

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