Members of the 9-person West Skagit Regional Fire Authority Planning Committee were briefed on rough cost estimates and, on the surface at least, it appears that property owners in Fire District 13 could face a significant increase in taxes to pay their share of a regional fire authority. Currently, District 13 property owners pay less property tax for fire protection than Anacortes property owners.
No one is saying the RFA won’t happen or that District 134 will back out, just that the cost may be too high for them to participate. But, the committee will continue discussions to see how to blunt the cost for District 13, which covers areas of March Point and generally from the Highway 20 turnoff to Oak Harbor east past La Conner.
Fire District 11, which covers most of south of Fidalgo Island south of the city, has opted not to participate in a regional fire authority, at least at this time.
The RFA would cover 58 square miles with a total population of 22,000 people, 9,000 homes and 900 businesses. Current emergency calls, including medical emergencies, total around 3,500 per year.
Anacortes Finance Director Steve Hoglund said after the meeting that the city could have significant cost savings in the long run, but the short-term costs could increase.
A consultant report released to the media at the meeting said, “Among the three jurisdictions examined, the operational and administrative resources are stretched thin in an effort tot live within available resources.” The report by Emergency Services Consulting International added, “While these efforts at fiscal prudence are a laudable effort, ESCI believes it is not sustainable long term.”
But, the report concludes that a Regional Fire Authority is viable and encourages the Planning Committee to move forward,” and should develop a funding plan. The report was commissioned by the RFA Planning Committee.
The next step? Anacortes Fire Chief Richard Curtis told the meeting, “Each entity has to do some soul searching. We need to be sure we get the benefits.”