Emergency response continues to evolve.

The district must maintain readiness 24 hours a day while responding across more than 300 square miles.

Funding supports:

• Volunteer firefighter recruitment and retention

• Current career firefighter/paramedic staffing

• Ambulance replacement and maintenance

• Fire engine maintenance

• Rescue equipment

• EMS/Medical supplies

• Firefighter gear

• Communications equipment

A levy lid lift allows voters to restore the District’s levy rate to its statutory maximum. The proposed measure will restore the regular fire levy to $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value for collections in 2027 and 2028. The levy amount collected in 2028 will then become the base for future levy calculations, helping provide more stable funding without requiring repeated levy restorations.

If approved, levy funding will help the District maintain current services and plan responsibly for future needs. This includes:

• Maintaining current 24-hour firefighter and paramedic staffing

• Supporting volunteer stations in Brady and Wynoochee

• Replacing aging apparatus

• Purchasing modern EMS equipment

• Replacing firefighter personal protective clothing

• Maintaining stations

• Improving firefighter training

• Supporting emergency communications

• Maintaining reserve funding for unexpected emergencies