Vote no on fire measure
Proposition 1 is asking for an additional tax that will increase the Fire District No. 8 levy 33 percent for property owners. I am writing to urge residents to research the facts and not trust the propaganda. More than 75 percent of the district administrators and firefighters asking you to support Proposition 1 do not live within the district. They will not be paying this new tax.
SCFD 8 used over $30,000 of taxpayer funds to pay a consulting firm that advised the district on how to successfully pass a levy. Chief Tony Nielsen has threatened to reduce staff and close stations if the levy fails. The district has more paid personnel now at its four stations than it has ever had. Bullying voters to support the levy with threats of service losses is unprofessional, to say the least.
Our 90 percent of rural fire districts have 26 full-time firefighters. An additional 11 full-time firefighters would staff our district at a higher rate than the urban districts. The real issue is less about paramedics saving lives and more about monetary compensation for union members and administrators. Please research the facts, and join me in voting no on Prop. 1.
Shauna Hawes
Spokane