CCFR Fire Levy Lid Lift
Costs and demand for services are outpacing revenue. The elected Board of Fire Commissioners has chosen to refer a $0.24 lid lift (from $1.26 to $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value) to voters during the August 2024 primary election.
The $0.24 lid lift will fund:
- Maintaining staffing levels of three firefighters at each fire station every day
- Purchase of two fire engines and one water tender
- Complete the construction of a partially built fire station in Woodland
- Initiate construction of a new fire station in west Ridgefield
- Fire station improvements at the Dollars Corner, Fairgrounds, La Center and Charter Oak facilities
The fire levy lid lift will cost the owner of a $600,000 home an additional $12 per month or $144 per year.
Why CCFR needs the Fire Levy Lid Lift
Revenue from Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue’s fire levy is not keeping up with capital needs, increasing numbers of emergency incidents, and costs to provide service.
The population within the CCFR response area has risen dramatically over the past decade, and so has demand for emergency services. Since 2017, CCFR call volumes have increased more than 40 percent.
CCFR funds daily operations and capital purchases such as fire engines, ladder trucks, fire stations, and other equipment through a fire levy capped at $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value. CCFR has an emergency medical service (EMS) levy at $.47 per $1000 of assessed value that funds paramedic positions and pays for medical equipment and supplies.
In 2017, voters approved a fire levy rate of $1.50. Since then, it has dropped to $1.26. This is called “levy erosion” and impacts the fire district’s ability to provide service. The fire district is limited by state law to just a 1 percent revenue increase per year, while costs to provide emergency services increase nearly 6 percent each year.
CCFR used funding from the 2017 fire levy lid lift to add firefighter positions, reopen a shuttered fire station in Charter Oak, purchase property for a fire station in Ridgefield, purchase four fire engines and a ladder truck, and provide major maintenance on existing fire stations to extend their service life. These actions helped reduce the Washington Survey & Rating Bureau Protection Class Grade for CCFR from a 5 to a 4, thereby allowing for lower fire insurance rates for residents and businesses.
CCFR has worked hard to use taxpayer dollars efficiently, while increasing the level of safety in our communities. Our firefighters, paramedics, and support personnel are dedicated to being good stewards of funds entrusted to us by our residents and want to continue to provide the level of service our communities expect.
CCFR Fire Levy Lid Lift Information
Overview:
- Purpose: Address costs and demand for services outpacing revenue.
- Proposal: $0.24 lid lift (from $1.26 to $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value).
- Election Date: August 6th, 2024, primary election.
Funding from the $0.24 Lid Lift Will Support:
- Maintaining staffing levels of three firefighters at each fire station every day.
- Purchase of two fire engines and one water tender.
- Complete the construction of a partially built fire station in Woodland.
- Initiation of construction of a new fire station in west Ridgefield.
- Fire station improvements at Dollars Corner, Fairgrounds, La Center, and Charter Oak facilities.
Cost to Homeowners:
- Additional $12 per month or $144 per year for the owner of a $600,000 home.
Why CCFR Needs the Fire Levy Lid Lift:
- Revenue Gap: Current fire levy revenue is not keeping up with capital needs, increasing emergency incidents, and service costs.
- Population Growth: Significant population increase within the CCFR response area over the past decade.
- Increased Demand: More than 40% increase in CCFR call volumes since 2017.
- Levy Erosion: Fire levy rate of $1.50 approved by voters in 2017 has dropped to $1.26, impacting service provision.
- Cost Increases: Emergency service costs increase nearly 6% each year, while revenue increase is limited to 1% per year by state law.
Previous Levy Achievements (2017):
- Added firefighter positions.
- Reopened a shuttered fire station in Charter Oak.
- Purchased property for a fire station in Ridgefield.
- Acquired four fire engines and a ladder truck.
- Conducted major maintenance on existing fire stations, extending their service life.
- Improved Washington Survey & Rating Bureau Protection Class Grade from 5 to 4, resulting in lower fire insurance rates for residents and businesses.
Commitment to Efficiency:
- CCFR is dedicated to using taxpayer dollars efficiently.
- Focus on increasing community safety.
- Firefighters, paramedics, and support personnel are committed to being good stewards of public funds.
- Aim to continue providing the expected level of service to the community.
How fire districts in Washington are governed and funded
This video, produced by the Washington State Auditor’s Office, provides good information on how fire districts in Washington are governed and funded. If you have questions about CCFR, contact Fire Chief John Nohr at john.nohr@clarkfr.org. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceKqRgV7tec