Spokane County Fire District 5 wants to provide a higher level of service to the northern parts of the West Plains as fire risk increases with development and a growing population.
The district is asking voters for a property tax levy increase of $0.46 per $1,000 of assessed valuation to fund equipment and facilities improvements.
“We’ll get there faster with more resources,” Fire Commissioner Larry Edmonds said.
The levy increase would be in effect from 2020-2035 if Measure 1 is approved on the Aug. 6 primary ballot.
It would cost taxpayers about $50 per $100,000 of valuation each year, but Edmonds said the cost of the levy would be offset by reductions in most homeowners’ fire insurance premiums.
The total levy of $1.48 per $1,000 of assessed valuation would generate an additional $50,000 per year, for an annual total of $189,000, Edmonds said.