North Idaho — This election season, the Spirit Lake Fire District asked Kootenai and Bonner County voters to pay more for emergency services. The proposed levy did not pass, and now the fire district says expansions and improved response times are on hold.
If the levy had passed, it would have cost someone with a $500,000 home about $50 more per year, funding increased staffing. This permanent levy would have replaced the district’s current two-year levy once it expires.
“I think that people get a little bit concerned about the word permanent,” said David England, the district’s fire chief. “That has been expressed to us a number of times. Unfortunately, we are going to have to go for a temporary levy moving forward.”
The district serves around 15,000 people across 120 square miles. Only one out of three fire stations in the district is staffed, with the other two mostly used for storage.
The levy would have paid for two additional firefighters and a remodel at the station in Blanchard, making 24/7 staffing possible there. Right now, people living in the area can see response times of up to 10 minutes.
Now that the levy didn’t reach the supermajority needed to pass, it will be longer until people will see changes.
“We’re trying to be the best stewards we can with the public’s money, but we need a commitment from the people who live in our district as well,” England said. “They need to be able to say ‘Yes, move forward,’ and a permanent levy would definitely do that for us.”
The district plans to run the levy again in the spring. It will ask for the same rate, but it would only last for two years.
If it passes, the district says it will move forward with the expansion. If it fails, the district says it would have to lay people off.
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