BATTLE GROUND — Clark County Fire District 3 will propose in the November election a 13-cent increase to the district property tax rate to fund emergency operations.
The 13 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value levy rate increase would amount to an additional $4.33 in property taxes per month for a property valued at $400,000.
According to district staff, the number of emergency calls has increased almost 40 percent since 2007, and that increase doesn’t account for Battle Ground, which was added to the district’s service area at the start of 2016.
As those call volumes rose, so did costs for apparatus and facilities maintenance, equipment, supplies and staffing, according to the district.
State law limits the district to an annual 1 percent increase in tax revenue, which the district said has not been up to meeting the shortfall, without a vote.
As property values rose, the levy rate decreased so it wouldn’t rise above that 1 percent cap, which, according to the district, has become unsustainable.
Over time, the fire levy rate has fallen from $1.42 to $1.29 per $1,000. If approved, the rate would return to $1.42 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
In a news release from the district, Fire Chief Steve Wrightson said the contract with Battle Ground pays for 100 percent of response costs within the city.
“The city of Battle Ground is paying for itself,” he said. “And, it enhances our emergency response for district and city residents with more staffed stations and units to respond.”
The district has been paying for daily operations using emergency reserves for several years, according to staff. Response times are starting to increase, which could downgrade the agency’s insurance rating and cause premiums to rise for businesses and homeowners.
Wrightson said previously that the fire district would borrow money to replace facilities, apparatus and equipment should the levy fail, which would ultimately be more costly because of interest.
A “no” vote could also mean reduced firefighter staffing levels, which would mean an increase in response times, according to the district.
