PORT ANGELES – Clallam 2 Fire Rescue is going to recommend that the Board of Fire Commissioners ask voters to approve a levy lid lift in the August 4 election this year.
The fire district wants to raise the current levy to $1.36 per thousand dollars of assessed property value, or an increase of 50 cents. Chief Jake Patterson says that if approved by voters, the funds would pay for the addition of some full-time firefighters on the west side of the Fire District, where there are none. He says the west end of the district is currently served by only two firefighters housed at the fire station in Gales Addition, which creates long response times.
Patterson also wants to implement a fully-funded equipment and vehicle replacement plan. He says there are several fire engines and water tenders in the District which need to be removed from service in the next one to five years and there is not enough current revenue to fund the project.
A resolution for the fire levy lid lift has been drafted and will be presented to the Board of Fire Commissioners at their next regular meeting on March 17.