Voters in Gold Bar and Index will be asked to combine Snohomish County Fire Districts 26 and 28 in an upcoming election.
As of Wednesday, March 1, the two virtually volunteer-driven districts began working under a four-year interlocal agreement (ILA). The contract consolidates most operations, leadership and government, creating one fire chief and one assistant fire chief position, and combines each five-member board of commissioners into one 10-member board. The unified services are designated as Fire District 26, however, Fire District 28 still exists.
“The whole idea behind the merger is to create more efficient fire departments,” said Assistant Fire Chief Ernie Walters, former chief for Fire District 28 in Index.
Under the ILA, the two districts still have individual insurance plans, fund elections separately, and can’t tax as a single entity, Walters said.