East County Fire and Rescue’s call volume has increased 52 percent in the last decade, putting a strain on the department’s budget.
To maintain the district’s level of service, East County Fire and Rescue representatives are considering turning to residents in November and asking for them to vote in favor of a levy lid lift, which would allow the department to increase the regular property levy in an amount greater than the 1 percent levy lid.
“Each year, the cost of doing business just keeps going up,” said Mike Carnes, deputy chief with East County Fire and Rescue. “It goes up higher than what our income is.”
Currently, the department’s levy rate is about $1.29 per $1,000 of assessed property value, which brings in $2,050,569 to the department. Carnes said the department could go up to $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value if the levy lid lift is approved, which would add about $340,655 a year coming into the department.