Lopez Island Fire District 4 Commissioners have authorized a Levy Lid Lift Request for the Feb.12 Ballot

San Juan County Fire Protection District 4 Commissioners at their regular meeting on Nov. 19, approved Resolution Number 2012-07 to increase its regular property tax levy to 83 cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation.

The district provides emergency medical, rescue and fire protection services to Lopez Island. This proposition was passed by the commission to fund its 10-year strategic plan. The increased revenue will fund a third paramedic position, replace a 1994 ambulance and a 1976 water tender, add one brush firefighting vehicle and one paramedic response vehicle and update and replace training equipment and personal protective equipment.

The revenue will also go toward maintaining and improving facilities with small remodeling projects. It will also help the district to seek grant opportunities to fund a small training facility for firefighter and emergency medical personnel.

The commissioners’ last resolution to the voters to increase their property taxes was in 2004 – nine years between requests for additional funding for the fire district.

If the levy is approved, the district would be able collect $.83 per $1000 of assessed valuation in 2014. In subsequent years, absent further voter approval, the district would be limited to a 1 percent increase in property tax collections initially based on the amount levied for collection in 2014, subject to the $1 per $1,000 of assessed value maximum.

The district’s board of commissioners has found that establishing the levy rate at $.83 per $1,000 is necessary to maintain an effective level of services, fire fighter and emergency medical staffing, equipment and facilities in light of rising costs.

If the levy is approved, the maximum tax per $100,000 assessed valuation would not exceed $83 each year or approximately $6.92 per month for fire protection and emergency medical services.

For further information on the Levy Lid Lift or to request a copy of the Lopez Island Fire & EMS 2012-2022 Strategic Plan,  contact Fire Chief Jim Ghiglione at 468-2991 or email him at jghiglione@lopezfire.com.