NIVS Endorses Fire Levies
NOTE: Each fire levy is different and covers different voting precincts. Some precincts are split. The following is general information on the voting precincts covered by specific fire districts. However, to be certain for your particular home, check which levy covers your home by any of the following:
Go to: Voteidaho.gov/on-the-ballots. Type in your location, then select sample ballot.
Or call the Bonner County Election Office: 208-255-3631
Look at your property tax bill to see your fire district.
Sagle Fire District:
Algoma, Careywood, Edgemere, Gamlin Lake, Sagle, South Side, Westmond
For Levy Facts: CLICK HERE
Northside Fire District:
Airport (split),Baldy (split) Beach, Colburn, Grouse Creek, Kootenai, Oden, Selle
For Levy Facts: CLICK HERE
Westside Fire District:
Airport (split), Baldy (split), Dover, Washington, Wrenco
For Levy Facts: CLICK HERE
NIVS SUPPORTS ALL THREE FIRE LEVIES BASED ON THE FOLLOWING:
While none of us like taxes, some taxes are more critical than others. Fire destroys human and animal life as a starter; not to mention destruction of private property. We urge voters to do their homework. Go beyond your tax attitude. Look at your ROI (Return on Investment). Is the tax investment of fire fighting worth what we might or might not lose? Our fire districts have done much over the years with very little. Remember we are capped at a 3 percent budget growth in Idaho.
While each levy is different in each fire district, there are common denominators that create a need for all these levies. Simply put, we are far behind on what we need to save lives and properties as well as assist our fire fighters as they risk their lives for us. No one is asking for state of the art; just the basics. So consider the following:
Unprecedented Growth:
In the last decade North Idaho has experienced nearly 16 per cent growth rate.
Volunteers Declining:
Volunteers are decreasing as labor shortages occur and younger people are forced to move from the area.
Inflation:
The cost of equipment has dramatically increased. The current cost of a fire engine is 1.1 million dollars. In 2020 the cost was 600 thousand dollars. All equipment costs have experienced the same.
Insurance Implications:
The insurance industry calculates our insurance bills based on an assessment of risk. It includes a wide variety of specifics like closeness of fire station, equipment, response time, etc. Our fire fighters do their best but if we don’t support them with the funds they need, then we can expect increased rates in our insurance or cancellation of our policy..