2008 EMS LEVY & FIRE LEVY LID LIFT
Frequently asked questions
Q: What is a lid lift?
A: A lid lift authorizes a district to increase the current levy rate by more then 1% with voter approval.
Q: When was the last time the Brinnon Fire Department went for a lid lift?
A: In 1968, with voter approval, the Department established the fire levy at $1.00/$1,000 then in 1985 the voters were asked for a lid lift back to $1.00/$1,000, which they approved. Then in 2006 the voters were asked for a lid lift to reestablish the levy at $1.00/$1,000, the voters denied that request.
Q: Have response levels changed since the 1985 levy lid lift?
A: Yes, Responses have increased by over 98%. For 2007 our Fire & EMS call rate was 303 calls. We anticipate that for 2008 we will be over 370.
Q: How much tax revenue will these 2 levies generate for the department?
A: The combination of the Fire Levy lid lift ($278,000.00) and establishment of the EMS Levy ($126,500.00) will provide the department with approximately $404,500.00. This will be an increase of $228,000.00 over our current tax revenue.
Q: What will it take to pass both levies?
A: The fire levy lid lift will require a 50% +1 or a simple majority. The EMS levy will require a 60% or a super majority.
Q: What will the fire levy lid lift do for the community?
A: The fire levy lid lift will allow the fire district to begin to implement the current 10 year strategic plan. We will begin hiring FF/EMT-Basic / Intermediates starting in 2009. This will shorten our response times and ensure that there is a responder on duty 24 hours a day 7 days a week. We will also begin the process of replacing our severely aging fire apparatus, most of which is over 25 years old.
Q: What will the EMS levy be used for?
A: The EMS levy, according to Washington State law, can only be used to support EMS services. This would include EMS Training, Staffing and WA Department Of Health (DOH) licensed EMS vehicles. With the funding realized from the EMS levy we will finish replacing our aging Ambulances and in 2011 we will start to hire EMT-Paramedics. When the hiring plan is completed we will have be able to provide around the clock Advanced Life Support (ALS) to the community.
Q; Why not continue to use volunteers for the staffing plan?
A: The district currently has a dedicated core of volunteers and 1 paid Fire Chief. The unfortunate fact is that due to federal and state training mandates combined with the needs of home life as well as a full time job have significantly reduced the time that volunteers can commit to the fire district. With the time that volunteers can commit it takes 6 volunteers to make up the coverage hours provided by 1 career firefighter. This would require 30 volunteers to staff just Fire Headquarters (Station 41). With the immense difficulty of recruiting and retaining volunteer firefighters this is not a feasible expectation.