In a unanimous vote from the Board of Fire Commissioners for Walla Walla County Fire District 4, a fire levy lid lift will be placed on the Aug. 6, 2024 primary election ballot, per a press release.
WWFD4 says revenue from the district's current fire levy is not enough to keep up with service costs, noting that daily costs increase about four to five percent each year while laws limit the district to a one percent revenue increase per year.
With call volumes increasing by 30 percent from 2018 to 2022 and EMS calls taking up 68 percent of all calls, WWFD4 says more personnel is needed for more efficient responses. If WWFD4's lid lift passes, the fire levy would change from $0.88 to $1.26 per $1,000 of assessed property value. This would cost an additional $12.67 per month or $152 per year for the owner of a $400,000 home.