Published: Friday, July 20, 2012, 12:01 a.m.
Meeting set on Silvana fire district levy
Fire District 19 firefighters will explain the importance of its fire and emergency services levy Wednesday in Stanwood.
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SILVANA -- People in the Silvana area are invited to a public meeting Wednesday to discuss an additional levy for fire and emergency medical services.
Crews at Snohomish County Fire District 19 in Silvana are asking voters to approve a maintenance and operations levy on the primary election ballot.
The additional revenue likely would keep the fire district from making staffing cuts, Fire Chief Keith Strotz said.
"It would just help us continue the high level of service we provide now," he said.
The meeting is planned for 7 p.m. at Fire Station 94, 2720 212th St. NW, Stanwood.
"We'll be here to explain anything they need to know," the chief said.
The levy would bring the district an estimated $190,000 each year for the next two years.
The district currently taxes $2 for every $1,000 of assessed property value.
The levy, if approved, would bring that to $2.57. The owner of a $200,000 house who now pays $400 a year would pay $514.
The district has a full-time paid chief, and the rest of the crews are volunteers. Some volunteers receive stipends for service, but stipends and the number of positions that receive them have been cut, Strotz said.
The district also has cut back on training and replacing aging equipment.
The district's budget in 2012 was $688,000, most of which came from property taxes, Strotz said.
Fire District 19 serves about 3,200 people over 22 square miles in the area between Arlington and Stanwood.
The levy requires 60 approval to pass. Ballots were mailed Thursday.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com
Crews at Snohomish County Fire District 19 in Silvana are asking voters to approve a maintenance and operations levy on the primary election ballot.
The additional revenue likely would keep the fire district from making staffing cuts, Fire Chief Keith Strotz said.
"It would just help us continue the high level of service we provide now," he said.
The meeting is planned for 7 p.m. at Fire Station 94, 2720 212th St. NW, Stanwood.
"We'll be here to explain anything they need to know," the chief said.
The levy would bring the district an estimated $190,000 each year for the next two years.
The district currently taxes $2 for every $1,000 of assessed property value.
The levy, if approved, would bring that to $2.57. The owner of a $200,000 house who now pays $400 a year would pay $514.
The district has a full-time paid chief, and the rest of the crews are volunteers. Some volunteers receive stipends for service, but stipends and the number of positions that receive them have been cut, Strotz said.
The district also has cut back on training and replacing aging equipment.
The district's budget in 2012 was $688,000, most of which came from property taxes, Strotz said.
Fire District 19 serves about 3,200 people over 22 square miles in the area between Arlington and Stanwood.
The levy requires 60 approval to pass. Ballots were mailed Thursday.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com
Story tags » • Silvana • Firefighting • Fire • Local elections • Taxes
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