Fire Levy Vote Feb. 3

Spokane Valley Fire District 1 will ask voters to approve a $6.785 million special levy on Feb. 3.

The 1999 special levy represents just over half the district’s maintenance and operations budget for the year. The rest comes from regular property taxes.

The levy includes funding for a $640,000 pumper/ladder truck to replace the district’s 26-year-old ladder truck, which has more than 100,000 miles on it.

If approved, the levy will cost homeowners $1.42 per $1,000 assessed value, or $142 for a $100,000 home. The district’s projected budget for 1999 is $12.6 million.

Besides setting the special levy, fire commissioners voted unanimously last week to take a 3 percent increase in their property tax collections for 1999, instead of the usual 6 percent.

They cited Referendum 47, saying it shows voters want government to rein in its spending.

Passed by voters in November, the law requires a two-thirds majority vote by school districts, fire districts and other taxing entities to increase their property tax collections beyond the inflation rate.

Commissioners approved the lower 3 percent tax increase, despite 10-12 percent annual increases in the number of emergency calls in the district.

“We don’t want people to think we’re taking all we can get,” Chairman Ray Allen said.

If unexpected costs arise, the district will have to put off some purchases, Allen said.

Several board members, Allen included, strongly oppose any further borrowing. A cash flow problem due to construction forced commissioners to borrow $1.75 million this spring to cover operating expenses.

The 14-month tax anticipation note will be paid off by the end of July.

, DataTimes