6 fire agencies in Kitsap, North Mason running levies on Aug. 6 primary ballots

Voters in several areas of Kitsap and in North Mason will see levy propositions on the ballots of the August 6 primary election to support fire services or EMS operations.

The five propositions are the City of Bremerton's Emergency Medical Care and Services tax levy; Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue's property tax levy for EMS and fire protection; Poulsbo Fire Department's EMS property tax levy; North Kitsap Fire and Rescue's EMS property tax levy; and North Mason Regional Fire Authority's property tax levy for EMS and fire protection.

Here's a look at what each is asking voters to approve.

Bremerton EMS levy

Bremerton is requesting to increase its property tax levy for emergency medical services to $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed value for each of six consecutive years, between 2025 and 2030, to continue financing emergency medical care and services, according to the city. The EMS levy is currently $0.37 per $1,000 of assessed value, and state law allows for a maximum of $0.50.

In 2023, the city's police and fire departments proposed a levy increase to pay for eight additional firefighting positions, one administrative position and eight police positions, phased in during 2024 and 2025. 53% of the voters opposed the levy in the election last August.

Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue levy

CKFR's board adopted a resolution in March to ask voters to increase the fire district's regular property tax levy to fund fire protection and emergency medical services for six years. The proposition authorizes the fire district to restore its regular property tax levy to $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation for collection in 2025 and authorizes a limit factor for each subsequent year at 100% plus up to 6% or the amount authorized under state law, subject to the limit of $1.50, whichever is greater.

The final year's levy dollar amount would be used to compute limitations for subsequent levies, according to CKFR.

In November 2020, voters approved a $58.3-million facility bond for CKFR, which is used to replace five fire stations in Central Kitsap. The bond, which costs property owners an estimated $0.32 per $1,000 of assessed value over the bond's 20-year life, won the support of 72.8% of voters in the election.

Poulsbo Fire Department: The Poulsbo Fire Department, also ​the Board of Fire Commissioners of Kitsap County Fire Protection District No. 18, adopted a resolution authorizing a regular property tax levy for emergency medical services for six consecutive years.

Voters will be asked to continue funding emergency medical services by continuing a regular property tax levy of $0.50 or less per $1,000 of assessed valuation for a period of six consecutive years, to be levied beginning this year and to be collected beginning in 2025, according to the fire department.

North Kitsap Fire and Rescue: NKFR is asking voters to authorize to continue funding emergency medical services for its citizens by continuing a regular property tax levy of $0.50 or less per $1,000 of assessed valuation for a period of six consecutive years to be levied beginning this year and to be collected beginning in 2025, according to NKFR.

North Mason Regional Fire Authority: The board of North Mason Fire Authority in Belfair adopted a resolution concerning a proposition to maintain and adequately fund the fire district's operations.

Voters are asked to authorize the district to restore its regular property tax levy to $1.11 per $1,000 of assessed value, to be assessed in 2024 and collected in 2025. The revenue will be used to maintain and improve fire protection and emergency medical services, replace apparatus and equipment, and provide for firefighter safety, according to the district.

The maximum allowable levy in 2024 shall serve as the base for subsequent levy limitations.