(The Center Square) – Spokane County voters have just over a week left to cast their ballots for the Aug. 6 Primary Election. From a new governor to five local tax measures, voters will have their say.
While state and federal officials usually take up the spotlight, they’re not the only ones on the ballot. Fire services might take the heat this election cycle as several agencies attempt to lift the levy lid over the 1% annual increase allowed by state law. A taxing jurisdiction may seek voter approval to increase its levy more than 1%, up to the statutory maximum rate, for a specified amount of time.
Spokane has dozens of fire stations scattered across the county. Many of those outside of city limits rely on property taxes to fund regular maintenance and operations. Without it, local officials say they would lack the resources needed to fend off the region’s dangerous fire season.
While Fire Districts 4, 9 and 13 ask voters to pass their maintenance and operations levies, the City of Airway Heights and Cheney are also asking their residents to approve tax measures for public safety, emergency medical services and city operations.
Fire District 9 is in the tightest spot, given that voters rejected its levy back in April by less than 1% after it had been in place for 28 years. The levy expires at the end of 2024, meaning voters could face significant service-level cuts if they fail to pass the measure again.
“If for some reason we continue to fail the levy rolling into fire seasons for 2025, that could be very impactful,” said Fire Chief Jim Walkowski in April. “What that looks like exactly, I don’t know yet.”
Walkowski said the levy accounts for around 65% of annual funding and rakes in $1.29 per $1,000 of assessed property value. However, if voters pass the increase, that rate would go up to $1.47 for 2025, increasing by a penny for the next two years, or a 15.5% hike from 2024 to 2027.
“If the levy is approved, the maximum cost increase to a home with an assessed value of $400,000 in 2025 would not exceed $72.00 annually or $6.00 monthly,” according to the ballot resolution.
Fire Districts 4 and 13 are both hoping to restore rates that voters approved in the past but have since lapsed. Local fire officials cited increasing costs as a barrier to maintaining existing service levels, noting that the tax hike is necessary to continue servicing in today’s economy.
District 4 is asking voters to increase the current levy rate of $1.16 per $1,000 of assessed property value to $1.50, which it last levied in 2021. The state limits annual increases to 1%; however, due to increasing costs, the district is asking for more, an approximately 29% hike.
District 13 is also asking for an increase that exceeds that annual limit. It hopes voters will restore the rate of $1.10 per $1,000 of value, which it last levied in 2009. If passed, the hike would amount to a 39% increase from the $0.79 per $1,000 of value that it currently levies.
If approved, District 13 could then increase the approved rate by 3% or less each year after.
Airway Heights is asking its residents to increase the city’s regular property tax levy, currently at $1.39 per $1,000 of assessed value, to $2.39 for 2025. If approved, the $1 increase would represent a 71.9% hike, which the city could increase by 6% from 2026 to 2030.
The City of Cheney has the only proposition on the August ballot that doesn’t ask residents to increase property taxes. Instead, it’s asking voters to renew its emergency medical services levy, which is set to expire at the end of this year. Voters last approved the $0.50 levy per $1,000 of value back in 2018.
In addition to the August ballot’s property tax levies, voters will also get a chance to reelect three Spokane County commissioners, with numerous other positions on the ticket as well.
