LAKEWOOD, Wash. — West Pierce Fire and Rescue has been funded by property tax levies for around 50 years, but this November, residents in Lakewood and University Place in Pierce County will have something new on their ballot.
West Pierce Fire and Rescue is asking voters to consider a fire benefit charge that would replace one of their current levies.
The ballot measure is not asking for more funding, it would just change how the department receives the funding.
“So if we moved to a fire benefit charge, we would completely eliminate our maintenance and operation levy and we would reduce the statutory rate of our regular levy by 33%,” said Chief Jim Sharp with West Pierce Fire and Rescue.
The proposed charge wouldn't be based on a resident's home or property’s assessed value. Rather, it is determined by the size of the building, its use, and its fire risk.
During a Lakewood City Council study session on Monday, Sharp explained how it takes more resources, time and personnel to fight large commercial building fires and multi-family unit building fires than single-family homes. That is part of the reasoning behind the higher risk and harder-to-fight buildings needing to pay more money under the fire benefit charge model.
Sharp said an estimated 80% of residential homeowners would see lower payments, while larger commercial and industrial buildings would likely see an increase.
"It was the equivalent of 20 home fires, collectively, is what resources were utilized to manage just that one commercial building fire,” Sharp said about a recent commercial building fire in the community.
The fire benefit charge would fund about 45% of the department’s budget. It is legally not allowed to fund more than 60% of the department’s budget.
Sharp also said part of the reasoning behind this proposed change is people are tired of property taxes.
“We hear a lot from people, generally speaking, you know, the property taxes feel like they get more burdensome every year,” said Sharp. “And it's not just the fire department. Everything's funded with property taxes, whether it's schools, or libraries, or the fire department.”
One topic at Lakewood City Council that was brought up was how the fire benefit charge would impact renters in apartment buildings.
Sharp said it depends on the size and risk of each complex and what they are currently assessed.
“Some may go down, some may stay the same,” said Sharp when speaking about how apartment complex payments would be impacted. “Whether that gets passed through to the residents, I guess, is each property owner’s decision.”
Other fire departments in the area already use the fire benefit charge, like Puget Sound Fire, Central Pierce Fire and Rescue, and Graham Fire and Rescue.