By Warren Appleton
Note: Warren Appleton, MD, JD, is a FD3 Commissioner, emergency physician and former head of Evergreen Disaster Preparedness. He writes currently as an individual.
1. In 1963 the FD3 Levy was voted on and set at $1.42/$1,000. FD3 has not requested a levy lift since 1963. Given longterm annual inflation of 2.2% and the effects of Initiative 747 the current Levy rate 61 years later is $.29/1,000.
2. The full-time San Juan Island population has grown sixfold from 1965-2022. The “snow-bird” and tourist population have grown exponentially and now spread over more months. The land mass, structures and people served by FD3 has grown, now serving SJI, Brown, Stuart, Spieden, Henry, and Pearl islands, federal and state property, trailer parks…. About 13 years ago, when Friday Harbor FD was no longer economically viable, FD3 absorbed Friday Harbor’s needs by contract. Friday Harbor annexed into FD3 5 years ago.
3. The service that FD3 provides has expanded. From a one-truck-full volunteer department to a multivehicle, multistation, mix of six full-time, three part-time, 40-volunteer department. From fire only to fire and rescue-plus: hazmat, disaster management and assisting medical and police response.
4. The source of fires has increased: stored propane and gasoline; two FAA recognized airports; three port/boat facilities; light industry; more unattended refuse (read oil and tires); at-home generators, trailers, electric cars/ lithium batteries; more people, etc.
5. OSHA, RCW, Labor & Industry, charting, bookkeeping costs have have grown. Safety standards created more need, time and money for primary training and periodic retraining. The tools of Fire & Rescue have improved service, and with those new tools comes increased acquisition, maintenance, repair and training costs.
6. Administration has been cutting costs as much as possible while maintaining barest minimum staffing, maintaining minimum functional coverage. In the last 10 months cuts include: assistant chief position; multiple contracts have been renegotiated; and two full-time front-line staff left for more secure employment and have not been replaced.
7. The Washington Survey & Rating Bureau which grades communities’ ability to prevent and fight fires for the insurance industry has increased criteria. This change has resulted in increased cost and increased potential for greater homeowner and business insurance rates.
8. FD3’s $0.29/1,000 rate is the lowest in Washington. The vast majority of fire districts have rates in a range of $0.65 to $0.85/1,000. In speaking with multiple first-response leaders I heard the current FD3 rate is: “ridiculously low,”“unsustainable” and “you’re kidding.” FD3 is asking for a levy lid lift to $.70/1,000.
Conclusion: Growth, Inflation and Initiative 747 and its sequelae have dramatically depleted the revenue side of FD3 ledger, resulting in: no replacement of needed staff and equipment; no capital resource investment; more difficulty achieving best response times; and the real possibility of increased fire/disaster insurance rates.
Why this levy lift? In order to achieve and maintain appropriate staffing, better position our resources to serve and create a logical long-term plan to best serve current and future generational needs, I voted for a reasonable rate of $0.70/1,000.
The risk is too great not to move forward.
