We are honored to serve the 47,000 residents of North County Regional Fire Authority (NCRFA). Covering 120 square miles, including the cities of Stanwood and Arlington, our team responds to approximately 10,000 calls each year —84% of which are for medical emergencies (EMS).

Our emergency personnel are highly trained to provide the following services:

• Fire suppression and prevention
• Emergency medical services (EMS), including Basic and Advanced Life Support
• Ambulance transport
• Technical water rescue
• Wildland firefighting
• Response to hazardous material spills
• Life safety and education programs

With a history of balanced budgets and successful financial audits, we take pride in serving our community with integrity and efficiency.

Daily operations are funded through two property tax levies:

• Fire Levy: Approved at $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value in 2020. As of 2025, this rate has decreased to $1.32 per $1,000. The fire levy accounts for 60% of our revenue for emergency services and supplements the EMS program, which accounts for 84% of all calls.

• EMS Levy: Restored to $0.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value in 2023.

Over time, levy rates fall as property values rise to limit the fire authority to roughly the same amount of revenue per year (plus any other voter-approved amount). This is called “levy compression” and impacts our ability to maintain emergency service levels.

In the past three years:

• Call volumes increased by 26%, leading to higher operational demands.
• Costs for essential equipment skyrocketed:
•  Fire engine prices rose from $600,000 to $1 million.
•  Ambulance prices nearly doubled, from $250,000 to $500,000.

The fire levy provides 60% of our revenue, which funds both fire suppression and EMS (84% of our calls). To keep up with demand and costs, we are asking voters to consider a fire levy lid lift to restore funding.

We must periodically ask voters to reset our fire levy rate. This is known as a levy lid lift, and it helps us maintain the speed and quality of emergency response that our community requires.

Voters approved a fire levy rate of $1.50 in 2020, but since then, the rate has dropped to $1.32. Our higher call volumes mean additional costs for emergency personnel, equipment, apparatus, fuel, maintenance and medical supplies–and that is on top of already-rising costs due to inflation. The fire levy also funds our EMS program, which now accounts for 84% of all emergency calls.

We are asking voters to consider a fire levy lid lift in the August 5, 2025, primary election to restore the fire levy to the previously approved rate of $1.50 per $1,000.

The public will get a chance to provide comments before the Board of Fire Commissioners makes a final decision about whether to place a measure on the ballot.

The $0.18 (18-cents) lid lift would fund:

• Six (6) firefighters over the next six (6) years to reduce response times. 

• Replacing two fire engines

• Replacing one ambulance per year for six years

• Refurbishing a ladder truck

The $0.18 lid lift costs $18 per $100,000 of a property's assessed value. For example, the owner of a $500,000 home would pay an additional $7.50 per month or $90 per year.

In addition, the improvements made possible by a fire levy lid lift help to maintain our community’s fire insurance risk rating. A better risk rating may lower homeowner insurance premiums for residents.

*Homeowners who are 61 years or older and others who meet income and eligibility requirements may qualify for a property tax exemption. Contact the Snohomish County Assessor at 425-388-3540 or online at https://snohomishcountywa.gov/328/Property-Tax-Exemptions to see if you qualify.

If a lid lift is not approved:

• Staffing levels would be reduced, which may delay response times.

• Replacement of fire engines, ambulances, and medical equipment would be delayed. Older equipment and vehicles would be used to respond to 911 calls. When those apparatus are out for repairs or have aged out of service, response times may be delayed.

• Our community’s risk rating could be negatively impacted, potentially leading to higher homeowner insurance premiums.

We are committed to operating within our budget. These reductions would limit our ability to maintain the quality and level of emergency services our community requires.

North County Regional Fire Authority welcomes your questions at info@northcountyfireems.com or 360-629-2184.