North County Fire EMS, WA
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Questions About the Fire Levy Lid Lift? We have the answers...
What’s on my ballot?
North County Regional Fire Authority (NCRFA) is asking voters to renew the fire levy at the previously voter-approved amount of $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The proposal will be on the August 5, 2025, primary election ballot. This is not a new tax. It is a renewal of the existing fire levy.
How do we fund emergency services?
NCRFA funds emergency services through a fire levy of $1.50 per $1,000 and an EMS levy of $0.50 per $1,000. Over time, these levy rates fall as property values rise to limit the fire authority to roughly the same amount of revenue per year (or any other voter-approved amount). For example, voters approved a fire levy of $1.50 per $1,000 in 2020 and it has fallen to $1.32 per $1,000 in 2025.
What is a “lid lift”?
As call volumes and costs increase, the fire authority requires additional revenue to maintain the level and quality of service our community receives. A “lid lift” returns the levy to an amount previously approved by voters, which provides additional funding for emergency services.
Why is my fire authority asking for this?
Call volumes have increased 26% in three years. More calls mean higher costs, and these costs are significantly higher due to inflation (18.5% in the same time period). The fire levy also accounts for 60% of the revenue we have for emergency services. This means it also funds our EMS program, which is 84% of all emergency calls.
What will the lid lift fund?
The lid lift will fund six firefighters over the next six years to reduce response times. It will also replace two fire engines, one ambulance a year for six years and refurbish a fire ladder truck. These projects are important to maintain our risk rating, which is associated with what homeowners pay for insurance premiums.
What will it cost?
The lid lift is $0.18 per $1,000 which is $18 per $100,000 of your property's assessed value. For example, the owner of a $500,000 home would pay approximately $7.50 per month or $90 per year.