Fire district weighs property tax hike

Brush Prairie – Clark County Fire District 3 is considering asking for voters to approve a levy lid lift in November.

Fire Chief Steve Wrightson said in a press release that the fire district is in the planning phase now for the possible tax increase, adding that there will be a lengthy process for the community to give public input. That will include two public hearings on the lid lift resolution and contingency plan this summer before voting on whether or not to go to the ballot this fall.

The lift would last for six years and be 13 cents per $1,000 assessed property value, or an additional $4.33 per month for a property valued at $400,000.

Fire District 3, which serves about 40,000 people in the Hockinson-Brush Prairie area, would use the money to pay for maintaining emergency service levels and its insurance rating.

If the proposal is rejected by voters, Wrightson said, the fire district would borrow money to replace facilities, apparatus and equipment. That, however, would end up costing more money because of interest payments, according to Fire District 3. It would also reduce firefighter staffing levels and the fewer personnel would cause emergency response times to increase.