Lopez fire department seeks levy

The Lopez Island Fire Department will ask voters to increase its tax levy from 67 cents to $1 per $1000 of assessed value this November. According to Fire Chief Rob Miesen, the department will be in the red by 2005 if it doesn’t find a way to raise extra revenue.

A recently approved state initiative limits the department’s tax revenue increases to 1 percent each year without a vote of the people. But inflation is raising operating costs to 4 percent each year, Miesen said. “We’re not doing this to establish a huge bank account. Our goal is to maintain services at our current levels.”

The department needs to replace three vehicles. One fire engine is 37 years old, the department’s only tanker is 34 year old and one of the ambulances is 17 years old. “They do not meet with state and federal standards,” said Miesen, explaining that the typical service life of a fire vehicle is 20 to 25 years, while that for an ambulance is five to seven years.

The department also wants to be able to keep pace with an expected increase in a population that is expected to grow by 23 percent by 2010, according to the state Office of Financial Management.

The Fire Department’s number of responses is increasing by nearly 10 percent per year, Miesen said. In 2000 the average cost of an ambulance response was $1549 per call, yet the department charges no fees to users.

Emergency Services Consulting Group was hired by the department in 2000 to evaluate the department. It recommended imposing user fees or increasing the tax levy.

“To look at providing that service (ambulance) at no charge, we need to find other revenue,” said Miesen. The department is concerned that user fees may discourage people in need of medical attention from calling. “We don’t want people not to call because of a fee attached,” said Miesen.

The department is particularly concerned about the high number of seniors in the community. According to Miesen, this translates into more residents needing emergency care, and higher costs for each response.

The district would also like to increase its supply of available water by purchasing a new tanker that can hold 3,000 gallons. The current tanker’s capacity is 2,200 gallons.

According to Miesen, improvements also need to be made at both Station 41 (near the Village) and Station 44 (near the school). The department would like to add an additional bay to provide storage for vehicles and equipment and better public access.

If voters approve the ballot and the department can buy a tanker with more water capacity, Lopez property owners will receive a better insurance rating classification, Miesen said. “A better rating will benefit all insured residents and is projected to ultimately reduce residents’ insurance bills by more than the proposed levy increase would increase their bill,” according to a department document.

Should the levy be approved, the department expects to be able to stay within the 1 percent levy limit increase in future years.

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