Clallam County Fire District 3 looks for ‘lift’ from voters

Learn about Fire District 3 levy lid lift proposal

Clallam County Fire District 3 (Sequim) hosts two public meetings to discuss the district’s reasons for proposing a levy lid lift. Meetings are set for 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 13, and noon on Tuesday, Oct. 16, both at the Fire District 3 headquarters, 323 N. Fifth Ave.

At the Oct. 13 meeting, the district will demonstrate physical agility testing for potential volunteer firefighters, with fire district staff climbing ladders, moving heavy equipment and carrying dummies — skills required to be a firefighter.

Call 360-683-4242 for more information.

An increase in emergency calls and constraints on how much funding the district can raise has Clallam County Fire District 3 officials seeking help from local taxpayers.

The district is sharing information with voters about its levy lid lift proposal, a measure that would “lift” the levy rate for district property owners from $1.26 per $1,000 of assessed valuation to $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value.

If approved, the owner of a $250,000 home would pay an additional $60 in property taxes to the fire district in 2019.

The proposed levy lid lift with a CPI-based inflator would generate more than $1 million in new revenue for the fire district in 2019 and about $8.3 million over six years, Fire District 3 Chief Ben Andrews said.

The Clallam County elections office mails General Election ballots to voters on Oct. 17.

Officials say a levy lid lift is needed to allow the district to keep up with the cost of doing business. Funding would be used to maintain emergency service levels, improve staffing where possible, train personnel and fund facility and apparatus needs.

“We share information in good times and bad with our community,” Andrews said. “And we want to make sure our citizens have the information they need before they vote.”

The fire district has experienced a 33 percent increase emergency call volumes in the past seven years, district officials said.

“We have an obligation to be open and transparent with our community about what we’re facing,” Andrews said. “That’s why we are coming to the community now before service levels are impacted. We want to continue providing the quality service people have come to expect from our fire district.”

Without a levy lid lift, Fire District 3 would forced to cut services and staff in 2022, according to Andrews’ projections.

Voters originally approved a general levy of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value in 2004. Since that time, the general levy has fallen to $1.26.

From 2020 to 2024, the levy rate would be tied to the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue consumer price index (CPI) with an annual cap of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value.

The ballot measure would allow the fire district to maintain its revenue stream for six years by either the statutory 1 percent or the region’s CPI, fire district officials said.

Possible service cuts

The district is dedicating most resources to a “boots on the ground” response, officials said in a recent press release — meaning emergency personnel are so busy responding calls that they have little time for training, commercial building walk-throughs, or other tasks they say are important to public safety.

In September 2017, Fire District 3 commissioners considered a three-year federal grant that would have added six firefighters to the workforce. It would have given the district about $1.007 million to cover 75 percent of wage and benefit costs in 2018 and 2019 and 35 percent in 2020. However, commissioners turned the grant down when they considered the cost — about $1.1 million over those three years — compared to the district’s reserves.

Securing a levy lid lift from voters in November may allow the district to secure grants such as these, Andrews said.

Costs to provide service will exceed revenue in 2019 and start draining reserves to maintain current service levels, fire district officials said.

The district’s $9 million annual budget is funded by a general levy (68 percent), an EMS levy (26 percent) and other revenues like charges for service (3 percent), timber tax funds (2 percent) and donations and grants (1 percent).

Fire District 3 serves a 142-square mile district from Gardiner to the east to Bagley Creek to the west and personnel responds to about 7,300 emergency calls per year. The district has 47 full- and part-time employees and operates three full-time (24-hour) stations and four volunteer stations.

For more information, contact Andrews at 360-683-4242 or bandrews@ccfd3.org, or by visiting www.ccfd3.org.

Federal grant helps purchase breathing equipment

Clallam County Fire District 3 has qualified for a $541,000 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to replace firefighters’ breathing apparatuses.

The grant comes as a relief, district officials said last week, as the district did not have the funds to replace the equipment.

“We are very thankful to have received this award,” District 3 fire chief Ben Andrews said. “Grants don’t replace regular funding, but every bit helps – especially now.”

Call volumes have increased to the point where Fire District 3 is dedicating most resources to daily operations, the district said.

Officials predict service costs will exceed revenue in 2019 and start draining reserves to maintain current service levels.

“The fact that we qualify for these grants demonstrates a real financial need,” Andrews said. “That’s why we’re asking our community to consider a levy lid lift in November.”