Editorial: Here’s Your Chance to Influence the Fire Levy Vote

— Brown Bag Meeting Tomorrow at Orcas  Fire Station (see directions below)

— by Margie Doyle —

(Editor’s Note: This editorial was first published on March 5. A number of community members have asked Orcas Issues if there is an election forum planned to state the pros and cons of the levy measure. As we note in this editorial, the Orcas Island Fire and Rescue District has made an extensive effort to hear from the public and to allow them to address their concerns at various public meetings throughout the island at various times. We would urge those who would like to inform the public to attend these meetings. The schedule going forward is noted below:)

Next month, Orcas Islanders face a once-in-a-decade election, about whether it will approve levy funding requested by Orcas Fire and Rescue to operate. The levy will provide funding at the rate of $1.05 per thousand for property values — slightly below the current millage rate of $1.0513 per thousand.

Fire Commissioners maintained, in meetings last fall setting the levy amount, that the amount requested is necessary to maintain current levels of service by the increasingly popular Fire Department:administration, staff and volunteers. Increasing calls, increasing costs and increasing regulations all factor into the level of service.

Critics of the proposed levy cite their perceptions of over-sophisticated equipment and operations, excessive spending on non-essentials and top-heavy administration.

The votes in this election will be counted April 22.  The Orcas Fire and Rescue Department is providing numerous opportunities for the public to weigh in on this proposition — Open Houses, Brown Bag lunches and Town Halls  — throughout Orcas Island, from Doe Bay to Deer Harbor, over the next month.

Those who want to be informed, who want to make their views made known, those who want to affect the outcome of the vote, have every opportunity to make their views known at the following meetings:

Brown Bag Lunches:
March 27, Thursday, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m., Orcas Fire Sta. 26 (past the ferry landing and Killebrew Lake on the main road, left-hand side)

Town Hall Meetings:
April 1, Tuesday, 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Station 21(Eastsound)
April 16, Wednesday, 5:00 p.m. -6:30 p.m., Station 21 (Eastsound)

Open Houses:
March 29, Saturday, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Deer Harbor Station 24
April 12, Saturday, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Doe Bay Fire Hall

A Brown Bag Lunch, Town Hall and Open House in Eastsound were already held last month. At the Town Hall on Feb. 26, one person attended. Surely not everyone else’s mind is made up, one way or the other?

In proposing this significant levy, the public deserves a full explanation from OIFR — which the Fire Dept. is providing. Similarly, OIFR deserves to be heard — but if it speaks into a vacuum, is the message getting across?

Or maybe we don’t want to hear the message, have our view challenged or our prejudice disproved. From childhood we learn that with rights come responsibilities. In this election, many people may be getting their information by reading or by private conversations. But those exchanges are by their nature private and limited by the interaction among a few.

It would serve us all, and be a model of citizenship to our children, to attend these meetings and make known our concerns, questions and opinions to a broader audience of our neighbors and fellow voters. Historically, in our relatively small population, outcomes have been decided by less than a handful of votes, and the public must abide by the consequences for years.

Regular meetings of the Fire Department Commissioners are sparsely attended by the public. That expresses confidence in our elected commissioners to faithfully discharge their duties. But the nagging doubt remains that maybe people are so comfortable in their assumptions, or complacent in their mission, that they can absolve themselves of the responsibilities of an informed electorate.

The Orcas Fire and Rescue taxing district, however, is giving islanders every reasonable opportunity to make their views known. Yours may be the voice that changes opinions for the betterment of all.

The levy outcome will affect not just a few at the top — it affects probably the broadest numbers our greater community. Our individual votes do make a difference. That deserves some deliberate, respectful consideration.