Fire district annexation measure coasts to victory

Voters gave overwhelming approval to an annexation measure that allows Spokane Valley to become part of two fire districts.

The measure was passing easily both inside and outside the Spokane Valley limits Tuesday night. Among the largest group of voters – Spokane Valley residents currently served by the Spokane Valley Fire Department – the measure was passing with 86 percent approval.

Thousands of absentee ballots remain to be counted.

The “annexation” was not typical. It did not change boundaries, but instead allowed city residents to continue to be served by their current fire districts, keeping service levels unchanged. The vote was required because, by law, the new city of Spokane Valley had to figure out by the end of 2004 what it will do about fire protection.

Fire and city officials have said they think people actually support the issue, but were worried they would be confused by the ballot language. If annexation would have failed, Spokane Valley would have had to consider contracting for fire protection or starting its own municipal fire department.

“I guess we’re quite encouraged,” Valley Fire Chief Mark Grover said of the early results. “I think (voters) did understand the issue.”

A half-dozen voters interviewed at several Spokane Valley polling places said they wanted to keep Valley Fire as is. But some thought that would be accomplished by voting for annexation, and others thought it was best to vote no.

Most of Spokane Valley has long been served by Spokane County Fire District 1—known as the Spokane Valley Fire Department. Three small areas along the city’s southern edge are served by Spokane County Fire District 8.

Fire district voters both inside and outside Spokane Valley had to approve annexation for it to pass. In Fire District 8, the measure had 72 percent approval among those who lived outside the Spokane Valley city limits.