West Pierce Fire District To Place Levy On August Ballot

Here's a press release from West Pierce Fire District:

The West Pierce Board of Commissioners voted May 17, 2011 to place a two-year maintenance and operations levy request on the August 16th ballot.

This two-year request is for $17.9 million dollars and replaces the existing levy. The levied amount will be collected over a two-year period and funds approximately 25 percent of the district' operating budget in 2012 and 2013.

As a result of declining property values, the district is currently collecting tax revenues that are less than they collected in 2008 and with the approval of this levy, it is projected that homeowners in the District will pay less total taxes to West Pierce than they are paying today.

West Pierce Fire & Rescue holds a Class 3 rating from the Washington State Survey and Rating Bureau, one of only three fire departments in Pierce County to receive such a high rating. Renewal of this levy will provide the funding necessary to maintain the high level of service that is currently provided. 

In this challenging economy, the district has worked very hard to contain costs.  For instance, all employees have agreed to concessions for the past two years.

As Chief Ken Sharp stated, “Our employees recognized that the citizens of Lakewood and University Place have supported them with levies for many years.  I’m extremely proud of these employees for stepping up to accept concessions during this trying economic time in order to maintain the service levels these same citizens have come to expect.”

West Pierce Fire & Rescue staffs seven fire stations around the clock throughout the communities of University Place and Lakewood, providing fire suppression, emergency medical response and transport, technical rescue, fire code enforcement and a wide range of fire and injury prevention classes to the Clover Park and University Place School Districts and other public forums.