Voters will see CKFR levy lid lift on Aug. ballot

Central Kitsap voters will see a fire levy lid lift proposition on primary ballots on August 6.

Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue said the board of fire commissioners passed a resolution in March to place a fire levy lid lift on the primary election ballot. The tax increase will be used to hire additional firefighters and replace aging apparatus, CKFR said.

Levy increase proposed for more firefighters, new ambulance

Voters will be asked to approve an increase of the fire levy from $1.34 per $1,000 of assessed property value to $1.50, which is the levy rate they approved in 2019. The $0.16 increase will cost the owner of a $500,000 home to pay an additional $6.67 per month or $80 per year, according to the statement.

If voters pass the proposition, the levy lid lift will be used to fund up to six firefighters in the next six years. The additional staffing will allow CKFR to staff two additional stations, Lake Symington and Olympic View, 24 hours a day and reduce response times across Central Kitsap, CKFR said.

More: First of Central Kitsap's new fire stations coming soon at Olympic View

The revenue increase will also support the fire district in replacing an ambulance that has reached the end of its usable life, refurbishing up to three engines, which can save taxpayers up to $2 million compared with buying new ones, and improving CKFR's firefighter and paramedic training programs, according to the statement.

A program that helps assist community members with issues before they become emergencies, known as CARES, will be funded by the revenue to reduce non-emergency calls to 911 and improve service for residents, CKFR said.

Call volumes raised by 39% in six years

The current levy doesn't keep up with the district's higher call volumes and costs to provide service, according to CKFR. In the past six years, the call volumes the district received have risen by 39%. In 2023, CKFR responded to 11,384 calls and 68% of them were for medical emergencies, CKFR said in the statement.

The fire district needs more firefighters and paramedics to maintain the level and quality of emergency services the community requires, CKFR said.

More: CKFR construction of new Olympic View fire station first of several in seismic upgrade plan

The last major voter-approved funding measure for CKFR occurred in November 2020, when voters passed CKFR's $58.3 million facility bond. The bond costs property owners in the district an estimated 32 cents per $1,000 of assessed value over the bond's 20-year life. The revenue is paying to replace five fire stations: Station 52?Olympic View, Station 45 on Trenton Avenue at Illahee Road, Station 57 near Lake Symington, Station 53 in Seabeck, Station 51 in Silverdale; and to remodel four stations: Station 64 in Chico, Station 41 at Meadowdale, Station 56 on Seabeck Highway and Station 42 at Island lake. 72.8% of voters supported the bond in the election that year.

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: CKFR proposes levy increase for more firefighters, replace ambulance