North Whidbey Fire and Rescue officials hope that voters will agree to raise property taxes modestly in order to replace aging equipment.
The objective, they say, is to protect firefighters and keep homeowners’ fire insurance premiums from going up.
The fire district is asking voters for a 15-cent levy lid lift. If passed, the owner of a $370,000 home (the average home value in the district) would pay an extra $55.50 a year in property taxes. North Whidbey Fire and Rescue currently has the lowest levy rate on the island at 62 cents per $1,000 assessed property value. “It’s not a huge levy, but it’s one we think we can live with, and spread our purchasing out over time to replace the necessary equipment to ensure our insurance rating and keep our firefighters safe,” said Marvin Koorn, chairman of the board of fire commissioners.