Orcas Fire and Rescue is very clear on the reason for its levy on the ballot: maintain the current levels of service.

“It isn’t to buy new fire trucks, it’s to take care of what we have,” said Fire Chief Kevin O’Brien.

On the April 22 ballot, voters will have the chance to approve or reject Proposition One, a levy lid lift of $1.05 per thousand of assessed property value otherwise known as the millage rate. If approved, it would be in effect for 10 years starting on Jan. 1, 2015.

According to fire commissioners, they are requesting the measure to maintain what was funded by voters with the 1998 levy. The millage rate then was $1.35.

The levy funds 99 percent of the department’s budget: operations and maintenance of equipment and facilities.

Fire Chief Kevin O’Brien has spent the last few months undergoing an analysis of the department’s current operations. A 10-year financial plan is available on www.orcasfire.org with a breakdown of all expenses.

“We did this financial projection to be fully accountable to taxpayers and their money,” O’Brien said. “We’re trying to be smart and strategic with our budgeting … the way we are funded today makes sense for the future. We will not be building new fire stations or buying new fire trucks. Through the 10-year plan, we will be replacing some aging equipment like aid equipment hoses, aid units, bunker gear and other tools.”

O’Brien said the budget for the last three years has been flat and when compared to the Lopez and San Juan departments, its combined fire and EMS budget is one of the lowest on the block.

“If we don’t fund it the way it is today, we will have to look at changing our service. That’s just the way it is,” he said.

When the original levy was approved by voters, a portion of the money went towards building a new Eastsound fire station and purchasing apparatus.

O’Brien says some islanders have asked why the department is asking for another levy just to maintain operations. He says the answer is simple: increased costs and call volume.

Since 1999, the cost of living has gone up 37 percent and the call volume for both fire and EMS calls has increased 119 percent due to population growth and an increasing 65 and older population. Twenty-six percent of the time, the department is responding to two calls at once.

“Every call impacts our resources,” O’Brien said.

In addition, as mandated by law, the cost to outfit a firefighter in bunker gear is four times what it was in 1998.

There are currently 64 volunteers; four career paramedics (one on duty 24 hours a day); one fire chief/EMT; one assistant chief and paramedic; one safety officer/EMT responder; one mechanic responder; one administrative assistant; one volunteer coordinator; and a financial officer at 75 percent full-time. OIFR is responsible for seven fire stations and 22 pieces of rolling stock.

The current budget is $1,947,257. Of that, $1,687,441 is operational and $259,816 goes to the capital fund.

O’Brien ran the numbers for a staff-only fire department and the added cost is $5.7 million more to the current budget per year.

“The gift the volunteers give to the community is incredible,” O’Brien said.

For more information about Orcas Island Fire and Rescue, visit http://www.orcasfire.org/.