Clark County Fire District 3 invites residents to learn more about the fire levy lid lift that will be on the Aug. 6 primary election ballot. The lid lift will fund 24-hour staffing at fire stations, additional paramedic-certified firefighters, medical equipment upgrades and a new ambulance, according to a news release.
Residents are encouraged to attend one of two public meetings hosted by Fire Chief Scott Sorenson to ask questions and learn more.
Wednesday, July 10, 7 p.m., at Station 31, 17718 NE 159th St., Brush Prairie
Saturday, July 13, 9 a.m., at Station 35, 505 SW First St., Battle Ground.
According to the release, call volumes have increased more than 25 percent in the last six years. Costs rise 6% per year on average, but state law limits the fire district to a 1% revenue increase, and one-time payments for new construction.
“We have to make cuts to balance our budget,” Sorenson said in the release. “Specifically, we are not able to fill vacant positions when firefighters leave for fire districts that are better funded. This is impacting our service levels and response times.”
According to the news release, despite the district’s history of good financial stewardship, the cost and demand for emergency services is outpacing revenue from the fire levy, which is concerning given that 70% of the district’s calls are for medical emergencies.
Revenue from a levy lid lift would hire more firefighters to staff all five of the district’s fire stations 24 hours a day, critical to improving response times. It would also fund more paramedic-certified firefighters and modern medical equipment to improve survival rates and replace an aging ambulance to transport patients to area hospitals.
In 2017, voters approved a fire levy of $1.42 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Since then, the rate has dropped to $1.16. Fire District 3 is asking voters to consider a $0.34 lid lift on the to reset the rate 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.
Learn more at one of the upcoming public meetings or at fire3.org. Sorenson also welcomes questions at 360-892-2331 or scott@fire3.org.
Clark County Fire District 3 provides fire and life safety services to 46,000 people in east Clark County, including the city of Battle Ground. Full-time and volunteer emergency personnel responded to 5,173 calls in 2023, of which 70% were for EMS. Fire District 3 operates under a balanced budget and has a long history of passing its financial and accountability audits by the state. More information on Fire District 3 can be found on its website fire3.org.
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