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Ballot question

Spokane County Fire District 9 Proposition 1: fire levy lid lift ($0.65 → $1.50)

On the ballot in
Spokane County Fire Protection District No. 9
Vote
Yes or no
Election
Nov 3, 2026

The question, as printed on the ballot

Proposition No. 1 Spokane County Fire Protection District No. 9 Property Tax Levy for Fire Protection and Emergency Services The Board of Fire Commissioners of Spokane County Fire Protection District No. 9 adopted Resolution No. 26-8 concerning a proposition to maintain and adequately fund District operations. This proposition authorizes the District to restore its regular property tax levy to $1.50 per $1,000.00 of assessed valuation to be levied in 2026 and allows annual levy revenue increases of up to 6% per year for the next five years (but not to exceed the $1.50 rate limit). The dollar amount of the final levy shall serve as the base for subsequent levy limitations as provided by RCW 84.55. Should this proposition be approved?

A “Yes” vote means

Fire District 9 raises its regular fire levy from about $0.65 to $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value, then may raise levy revenue up to 6% a year for five years (capped at $1.50).

A “No” vote means

Fire District 9's regular fire levy stays under its current limits (about $0.65 per $1,000 of assessed value).

Official plain English statement

Spokane County Fire District 9 (District) provides fire protection and emergency medical services across 125 square miles. This proposition would authorize a six-year levy lid lift for the District's regular fire levy. If approved, the levy rate for collection in 2027 would be $1.50 per $1,000 of assessed value. During the following five years, the District could increase levy revenue by up to 6% annually, but the regular levy rate could not exceed $1.50 per $1,000, under state law. The District's call volume has nearly doubled since 2013, and the District has not requested a voter-approved increase to its general fire levy in over 45 years. If the measure passes, for property assessed at $500,000, the increase from the current $0.65 rate to $1.50 would be $423 per year, or $35.25 per month. The District commits to reducing its maintenance and operations levy by $0.20 per $1,000, reducing the net increase on a $500,000 assessed property to $323 per year, or $26.92 per month. The 2032 levy amount would be used to calculate future limits.

Sources

The question and plain English statement are copied word for word from official election materials. The Gist does not take a side on ballot questions.