Since 2021, Whatcom County Fire District 21, also known as North Whatcom Fire and Rescue, has tried to pass a levy lid lift to accommodate rising service costs and call volumes.
The levy passed on the fourth attempt in August, which now begs the question: What’s next?
Fire Chief Jason Van der Veen said the district has a responsibility to voters to deliver on the three things it said it would do with the money: staff Station 62, make improvements to Station 63 and replace aging equipment.
“It’s our duty to show that we made progress and do those things that we said,” Van der Veen said at the North Whatcom Fire and Rescue Board of Commissioners meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 2.
The district said call volumes have doubled over the last decade, and it has struggled to maintain a full staff due to funding issues, which impacts response time.
North Whatcom Fire and Rescue is now hiring, both for lateral and entry-level positions. Station 62 in Semiahmoo will be fully staffed with three firefighters as soon as possible, but the process could take more than a year.
Station 63 in Birch Bay will either see a major remodel or complete renovation, depending on what the county determines is feasible for the property. The district may partner with North Bay Community Church to use some of the church’s land for temporary housing for Station 63 crews.
Another portion of the levy money will be spent to replace some of the district’s dated equipment, including engines and water tenders. Aging apparatus has been a concern since the first failed levy attempt in August 2021, as some equipment is nearing the end of its lifespan and can be costly to replace.
Van der Veen will bring more information about equipment and apparatus to the next board meeting on Sept. 17, when the budget will be discussed.
The levy lid lift will raise property tax rates from 77 cents per $1,000 of assessed property to $1.20 starting in 2027, which would allow the district to collect up to $118.6 million over six years.
No decisions were made at the Wednesday, Sept. 2, informational meeting.
