Levy means a lot to fire district

Published 9:54 pm Thursday, May 7, 2009

GRANITE FALLS — The fire department will have to tighten its belt next year if taxpayers don’t renew a levy that is expiring.

The 10-year levy pays for round-the-clock emergency medical service, supplies and training. Snohomish County Fire District 17, which serves Granite Falls, doesn’t have its own paramedics and contracts with Lake Stevens Fire Department, Chief Rick Hjelle said.

The levy accounts for 20 percent of the department’s budget of about $1.6 million. “If we lose 20 percent of funding … making some sort of reduction is going to be unavoidable,” Hjelle said.

The EMS levy rate is 50 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. So, the owner of a $215,000 home would end up paying about $107.

In its 16 years, the community has always supported the measure. But in today’s economy, even such an important service may be a tough sell, Hjelle said. Officials will do all they can to put the measure on the voters’ priority list.

“We will be responsive to what the taxpayers tell us they want,” he said. “Our job over the next few months is to make sure the public has the information they need to make their decision.”

Shrinking revenue may force the fire department to cut staff or programs such as public education, Hjelle said. If the measure fails, the district will have to make do with less money. But officials are gearing up to rally the community for support.

“We’re very proud of the level of service we can provide … and we want to continue providing it,” Hjelle said.

Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452, kyefimova@heraldnet.com.

To learn more about the EMS levy, attend the meeting next Thursday at 7 p.m. at 116 S. Granite Avenue