BENTON COUNTY, Wash. – Benton County Fire District #1 is urging voters to renew a levy for Fire and Emergency Medical Services in the upcoming primary election.
This levy, first approved in 2018 at $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed property value, has decreased to $1.23 and needs renewal at the original rate, the district said.
The fire district highlighted that emergency call volumes have risen, with EMS calls increasing by 58% since 2018.
Additionally, costs for insurance, dispatch services and IT security have more than doubled due to inflation, the district added.
The proposed lid lift would cost the average homeowner less than $5 per month.
The funding aims to hire three full-time firefighter/EMTs to handle increased calls, purchase a decontamination unit to clean firefighter gear, replace an ambulance and medical equipment, and renovate Station 120 on Finley Road.
Benton County voters will also decide a number of races on the August 5 ballot:
Kennewick City Council, Position 1 Kennewick City Council, Position 3 Kennewick City Council, Position 4Richland City Council, Position 3Richland City Council, Position 4Richland City Council, Position 6 Prosser City Council, Position 2Kennewick School District Director, District 5Grandview School District Director, District 5
A sample ballot and voting pamphlet showcasing all the candidates for Benton County can be found here.
