Tri-City area fire levies see mixed results, some districts heading toward 2nd failure

Three Tri-Cities fire districts were seeing mixed results in Tuesday’s election in asking voters for more money to cover the rising costs of rural firefighting and ambulance services.

The fire districts say the increases are critical to keep pace with increasing populations and the growing number of calls.

▪ Franklin County Fire District 3 voters were rejecting its levy request Tuesday with 55%, or 654 votes, opposing to 45%, or 529 ballots, approving it.

It’s unclear how many ballots remain to be counted in Franklin County.

The measure is expected to increase voter property taxes by 40 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, if approved. That is expected to add $120 a year to the tax bill of a $300,000 home.

▪ About 61%, or 411 ballots, were cast in favor of Benton Fire District 2 moving its levy rate back to $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value. The increase will add 3 cents per $1,000 to property tax bills.

Due to increases in population, the district’s current tax rate is about $1.47 per $1,000 and dropping each year.

About 39% of voters, or 267, were rejecting the measure. The Benton County Auditor’s Office reported that there were 25,000 ballots left to count in the coming days.

▪ Walla Walla Fire District 5 voters were rejecting for a second time the first increase in more than three decades with 158 votes, or 56%, against, to 124 votes, or 44%, supporting it. Walla Walla’s auditors reported they have about 6,000 ballots left to count.

They’re asking to increase the rate from $1.22 to $1.38 per $1,000 of assessed value.

The demand for the services in the areas outside of the Tri-Cities have more than doubled in the past five years and ambulance calls now make up more than 50% of their calls.

At the same time, the costs of running a fire department and ambulance service, including fuel, also have increased.

But the amount that fire districts can collect has dropped over the same time leaving many rural fire districts struggling.

Franklin County Fire District 3 Chief Mike Harris previously told the Tri-City Herald they’ve had trouble maintaining the number firefighters needed in areas near the Columbia River north of Pasco.