It’s been decades since San Juan Fire District 3 had a levy lift. According to Chief Noel Monin, the last such measure on record was in 1963. The levy lift on the ballot in November would raise that request from 30 cents to 70 cents – an increase of only 40 cents over 60-plus years.
“This is probably the most important measure on our November ballot,” offered Maureen See, long-time islander and member of the Fire Levy Support Team.” If the fire levy does not pass, our community is in danger of losing the protection and safety of the fire services we take for granted.
“I hope our voters understand the crisis before them and vote YES on the fire levy.”
The current levy is now valued at less than $0.30 per $1,000 of assessed value. While there are many reasons a levy’s value decreases over time, essentially it comes down to (the state-mandated) limit factor of 1%. That means, that as property values increase, the fire levy rate is reduced from its previously authorized amount to align with the total amount of dollars collected (rate compression). As a result, fire districts are only allowed a 1% revenue increase per year, not including new construction. However, a 1% increase rarely keeps up with the increased costs of providing emergency services.
“We have saved the community a lot of money [by being frugal], but we are at the point today where it shot us in the foot,” Chief Monin said, citing an aging fleet and understaffing. “We should have looked at this ten years ago. The writing was on the wall, but no one was looking.”
Because a levy lid was punted down the road, Monin explained that (should the levy pass) a large portion of the funds would be used to increase and maintain career and volunteer staffing to a minimum equivalent of three full-time firefighters per 24-hour shift. This would guarantee an immediate response of three firefighters with an engine at the Mullis Street Headquarters Fire Station, plus a duty officer to ensure an immediate interior fire suppression response (that meets the WAC 296-305 requirements for two-in, two-out). In addition, these full-time firefighters and geographically positioned volunteer firefighters will help the Fire District maintain good protection class ratings from the Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau. Insurance companies use WSRB ratings to calculate homeowners’ insurance rates. Poor ratings can result in high premiums or worst case loss of underwriting.
The district, created in 1958, has grown to meet the needs of an increasing population. According to Monin, that growth has presented new challenges. First responders need to provide medical aid support on selected calls, hazmat, search and rescue, and technical rescue (rope, auto extrication, marine program); and interagency agreements have been made to provide services to the Sheriff, State, and National Parks with mutual aid to local and state fire agencies. Further, the District now serves 10 islands with seven strategically located fire stations, a marine boat slip, and a support shed. Additionally, more homes have been built in forested areas, increasing the possibility of loss of property and life due to wildland fires. Consequently, call volume has dramatically increased since the district’s early beginnings.
Since Fire District No. 3 currently operates one staffed fire station, five unstaffed fire stations, and various equipment caches on outer islands, funding will go toward staffing and maintaining them. According to a fact sheet put out by the department, many of the stations are deficient in handling the size of fire engines, earthquake and storm resistance, firefighter cancer protections, firefighter decontamination facilities, basic sanitary needs, and resident occupancy.
The department also notes the need for a new training facility. Funding for the facility would improve firefighter training through convenient access, improved safety, consistent objectives, and logistical efficiency.
Additional funds would sustain a reserve fund that provides a buffer for unanticipated economic challenges and enables the district to maintain basic services in case of emergency needs.
Should the levy fail, staffing reductions will occur; services will be reduced or eliminated; maintenance for fire stations will be delayed and the district will be unable to purchase much-needed equipment, nor honor many of its reciprocal agreements with partner agencies.
The department and the Levy supporters want the community to understand that reduced services and staff means a higher possibility of injury, death, and property loss, for the island’s residents and visitors. The staff and volunteers who respond to protect island residences will also be jeopardized by reduced response levels and continued use of apparatus and equipment that needs to be replaced.
“The staff and volunteers are doing a lot for the community. We are there for people during their worst days, and for the celebrations,” Chief Monin said. “We are here for the community, we are community-driven. We are only as strong as our community wants us to be.”
According to Monin, Town Halls will be scheduled to answerquestions. More detailed information is available on the district’s website at https://www.sjifire.org/about/levy-2024/.
