Fire Levies Go Down To Wire

Wed., Nov. 8, 2000

By Wendy Harris wendyh@spokesman.com

SPOKANE COUNTY RACES

Several fire district and EMS levies in Spokane County appeared to be leaning toward approval, based on early election returns Tuesday night.

Five levies and one bond measure all had captured more than 60 percent of “yes” votes late Tuesday; however, only a small percentage of votes had been tallied.

Special levies and bonds require 60 percent approval to pass.

Meanwhile, a Deer Park proposition to ban the sale and use of legal fireworks was too close to call, with a nearly even split among “yes” and “no” absentee votes. Precinct votes were unavailable.

Also, an Airway Heights proposition calling for a council-manager form of government to replace its current strong-mayor system was up in the air late Tuesday. Absentee ballots also showed a near even split among voters, with precinct votes unavailable.

Here’s how the other measure looked late Tuesday:

The Medical Lake EMS levy was leaning toward approval with a majority of votes tallied. The levy would tax voters 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value for six years to fund its emergency medical responses service, which costs the Fire Department about $40,000 a year.

The Rockford EMS and fire department levy race couldn’t be called based on too few votes tallied late Tuesday. The four-year levy would raise about $15,000 annually and would cost property owners about 95 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.

Fire District 1’s maintenance, operation and EMS levy for 2002 had strong support based on about one-fifth of the precincts that reported results late Tuesday. The $8.35 million levy will cost property owners about $1.60 per $1,000 of assessed property.

Fire District 4’s general obligation bond also had more than 60 percent approval based on a fifth of the precinct results. The 15-year, $5.4 million bond will be used to finance land, fire stations, vehicles and equipment.

Fire District 9’s levy to finance maintenance, operation and EMS costs in 2002 had strong support based on about half of its precinct results. The $2.55 million replacement levy will charge property owners about $1.31 per $1,000 of assessed property.

Fire District 10’s EMS levy also was leaning toward approval. The 10-year levy, which is expected to raise $80,000 a year, will cost property owners about 38 cents to 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed property.

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