NEWMAN LAKE, Wash. – Early results for a Spokane County Fire District 13 levy put the measure on track to fail Tuesday night, a move that could cause cuts to Newman Lake’s emergency response infrastructure and increase property insurance rates.
According to The Spokesman Review, the fire district is under the risk of a lowered rating from the Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau due to low levels of funding for emergency services, which would increase property insurance rates in Newman Lake.
Now that the levy could be on track to fail, the property tax level may continue to sit well-below the county average at $0.79 per $1,000 of property value.
According to District 13’s Board of Commissioners, the restored tax level would have allowed for maintained levels of firefighter staffing and improved services, including the reinstatement of an onsite resident program. It is not clear whether the district will be able to continue to employ three full-time staffers under the current funding regime.
