BG Council endorses Fire District 3 levy lid lift

In a Wednesday, July 17, special meeting, the Battle Ground City Council adopted a resolution supporting Fire District 3’s proposed levy lid lift.

Fire District 3 serves over 46,000 east Clark County residents, including Battle Ground, and averages 4,800 calls per year, according to its website. According to a news release from the fire department, call volumes have increased more than 25% in the last six years. Costs rise 6% annually on average, but state law limits the fire district to a 1% revenue increase and one-time payments for new construction.

Additional revenue would staff all five of the district’s fire stations to improve emergency response times. The lid lift would fund more paramedic-certified firefighters, updated medical equipment and replace an aging ambulance to transport patients to area hospitals.

Fire district taxpayers currently pay $1.16 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Should voters approve a $0.34 lid lift, the tax rate would reset to $1.50. The lid lift would cost the owner of a $500,000 home an additional $14.17 per month or $170 per year.

Clark County Fire District 3 reportedly responded to 5,173 calls in 2023, 70% of which were for emergency medical services. More information on Fire District 3 and the proposed levy lid lift can be found at fire3.org.