Local elected officials say they’ve heard positive feedback from constituents regarding the Western Lakes Fire District’s recent report detailing staffing issues and the reported need for more than $6 million in WLFD’s annual budget. The district has said it cannot currently afford to increase staff or pay enough to retain workers, even as calls for service increased 74% from 2017 to 2021 as the district’s development and population have grown. To financially achieve the goal of hiring more people and keeping them on a full-time basis, the report contained potential courses of action: Making municipal budget cuts and service reductions, levying a municipal wheel tax or holding a referendum to increase property taxes. Another option within the report is to do nothing and maintain the WLFD’s status quo. Individual communities will have the freedom to choose the option that suits them best.