Fire District No. 6 has a new levy lift request on the upcoming Aug. 6 ballot. Proposition No. 5 asks voters to again increase the levy limit factor beyond 100 percent, to 106 percent for each of the next five years.
Recall that District 6 already asked for, and received, a levy lift in 2020 to replace the Salmon Creek station. This was after voters had said “no” to a new station in a prior election. The expensive new station is complete. Now the district is citing the usual ambiguous reason of “increased demands for emergency response,” with no specific intent, and in the Voters’ Pamphlet “Statement For,” not even an acknowledgement of the new station voters approved.
District 6 has adequate resources already, e.g. the recent Smokin’ Oak fire in downtown Vancouver, when District 6 sent resources to assist the city of Vancouver, which is its own tax entity. This is a common occurrence.
With rampant inflation and many families struggling with costs, we should think twice before automatically approving this excess. The limit should be the limit, not 106 percent of the limit. Vote “no” on Proposition 5; even heroes need to be held financially accountable.
