Fire District Levies Approved

Thu., March 16, 2000

From Staff Reports

Voters approved measures for two fire districts on Tuesday.

Unofficial results show the Spokane Valley Fire District’s $7.7 million maintenance and operations levy passing by 82.4 percent, or 10,066 yes votes. Without counting absentee ballots, 2,145 people, or 17.5 percent, voted against it.

Voters in Newman Lake Fire District 13 approved a $500,000 bond by 79 percent, with 366 people voting yes and 97 voting no.

Fire district 13 will use the money to purchase updated fire equipment.

The levy for the Spokane Valley District replaces an existing levy. This levy translates to $1.57 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Currently, residents pay $1.49 per $1,000 assessed value.

Valley Fire Chief Pat Humphries said he was very pleased with the vote, which had the highest percentage of votes ever. Past levies have passed in the 70 percent range, he said.

The levy represents slightly more than half of the fire district’s $14.5 million budget for 2001. The rest of the funding comes from regular property taxes.

The votes will be certified on March 24.

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