||| FROM TONI KNUDSON |||
I am writing to express my support for the proposed Orcas Island Fire Levy. The proposition of a five-year temporary levy, which adds .24/1000 onto the current .53/1000 expiring levy, strikes me as a sensible approach to address the funding needs of the OIFR. What particularly resonates with me is that this proposed levy is aimed at strengthening the operational fund with a well-defined plan to increase reserves to a necessary level. As it stands, it is crucial to acknowledge the importance of adequately funding the capital needs of the department in the foreseeable future. The proposed levy seems to acknowledge this understanding, alongside other reasonable spending measures.
I am endorsing this levy because I perceive a genuine community-wide eagerness to enhance fire protection services, improve emergency response times, and elevate safety standards on our island. The exceptional career staff and volunteers depend on our backing this levy to meet our community’s needs effectively. It is indisputable that the costs associated with maintaining and enhancing these critical services have escalated over the past five years. Therefore, implementing a temporary levy of five years appears to be a clear-sighted strategy to manage these rising expenses efficiently.
I urge every community member to participate in the upcoming vote on the proposed Orcas Island Fire Levy scheduled for April 22. Your support is pivotal in ensuring the continued betterment of our fire department and the safety of our community.
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well said Tony, thx.
Great letter Tony. Thank you for speaking clearly to the details of this complex situation!
I’m right there with you, Toni. Thank you for all that you do.
Not arguing with the writer or comments about need. This will result in about a 45% increase on our taxes from the fire line item from last year. That is significant and it doesn’t take into account reassesment of property values we will most likely be faced in following years. I am assuming (hopefully) the size of this assesment is in part to repair the damage to the department from the previous years of turmoil.
One positive is this levy sunsets in 5 years. This will give taxpayers an opportunity to assess how effectively and sensibly OIFR uses this levy to get the department back on track and repair passed deficiencies so future levies will be based more in line with cost of living than to repair incompetence. OIFR, you have to remain aware of the uprising and power shown by taxpayers recently that resulted in votes of no confidence and sizeable rejection of your proposed levy….twice. You do have a fiscal responsibilty to the taxpayers.
Also we stated, the Dept must return to the voters for the obvious Commissioner elections AND about the taxation funding. We have still not heard from our Commission yet regarding the equipment and apparatus needs of the Dept. so we all should be aware that this will be in addition to the .77 cents per thousand levy in April.
I’m fond of 20 cents per thousand but there are other opinions.
Gary, I looked again at the flyer and you’re right: “This proposition does not include capital needs”. That sounds like a big chunk of change. Any idea how the commission intends to pay for that? Will we be back to the dollar amount just by differnt means that was in the first levy lid lift that we voted down?
Today’s Occam’s Razor is appropriate!
Bob Thomas: The 45% increase in the fire department’s tax rate will increase your property taxes (and mine) about 4.4%
Washington State limits the annual increase in revenues from property taxes to 1% (plus an amount to account for new construction). That means our property taxes can only increase by this state limit, no matter what happens to the assessed values.
I estimate that the fire department has seen an approximately 20% increase in annual revenue over the past ten years. During that same period, inflation has increased the cost of services by nearly 50% (and the cost of fire related services and equipment has gone up faster than inflation). The department has seen its workload, as measured by call volume, increase by 60%.
What should the levy increase have been to account for all of that? I estimate it should be 1.5*1.6/1.2 = 2. That is, the rate should increase by 100% just to make up for inflation and workload. That is very close to the levy proposed last year and that you voted against.
The inflation dilemma requires balancing increasing “costs” with decreasing spending power. Incomes are not keeping pace and tax/rate payers are caught in a bind. Recent articles in this publication have disclosed that fully 60% of our island population are receiving assistance of some kind – can they pay more?
That is the challenge to our elected representatives, commissioners, board members, trustees, county councillors. I’d like to see them all work together for a comprehensive and affordable budget with the whole package put before us, not piecemeal via incessant special elections.
We want a first class fire service, potholes filled, culverts repaired, arts classes, affordable power (6% per year increase) but we have to balance want with need for essentials before we think about extras, then fund those extras with creative solutions like bonds, fundraising or grants for capital costs.
Hi Bill, longtime no see.
Appreciate you response. I developed a high opinion for your abilities during those early meetings of the Clinic Commission; you cleared up things for me on a number of occasions.
I’m still trying to get a handle on the county property tax system so bear with me.
OIFR FIRE ITEM ON MY TAX BILL
Here’s how I figure it:
Existing levy lift = $.53 per 1000
Proposed Levy Lift = $.77 per 1000
Increase $.24 per 1000
$.24 x assessed value/1000 = Increase in new proposed line item value in dollars
New proposed line item value – 2024 line item value = increase in the dollar cost for the line item.
Adding the increase to the 2024 Tax line item and dividing by the 2024 tax item = 1.47 OR A 47% increase for the FIRE LINE ITEM ONLY.
Divide the fire line tax increase by TOTAL TAX I come out with an increase of 4.7%, similar to your 4.4%.
My opinion still stands that the proposed levee Lift would increase my tax dollars for OIFR by 47%. Not insurmountable if taken on its own but also a sizable increase for OIFR.
Now, there are 17 tax line items on my bill. We have multiple elections each year. Many, like this Levy Lift, are requesting tax increases. These do not stand as isolated instances.
FIRE EQUIPMENT
Not sure how much equipment is needed and specifically excluded from this Levy Lift. I seem to recall replacement of at least a couple vehicles at probably close to 6 figures each. Not sure how those will be paid for.
1% TAX INCREASE GOING FORWARD.
As far as I can tell you are right about 1% maximum increases going forward…..until the next Levy Lift in 5 years!
No doubt OIFR needs thIS Levy Lift and I appreciate it is lower than the previous 2 and has a sunset provision but hopefully the taxpayers will be vigilant going forward with the new commission and comment as appropriate.
I stand by the rest of my comments.