We, the Vashon Island Fire & Rescue Board of Commissioners, would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our fellow islanders for supporting the Vashon Island Fire & Rescue Proposition 1 levy.

While the levy received 61.5 percent support, we also acknowledge that 34 percent of island voters voted against it. We extend our gratitude to all of you for having done your civic duty to vote. We fully understand the concerns raised over a tax increase at a time when many of us are struggling financially. None of us wanted to raise taxes, but as commissioners we recognized that we had to do so to keep VIFR going — and we also knew through months of review and discussion that anything less than returning to the full $1.50 set 27 years ago would not be enough to pull our fire district out of our financial crisis.

Every member of our fire district felt profound relief last Wednesday morning knowing that we would no longer have to worry about not having enough personnel, equipment or working vehicles with which to do our job of protecting Vashon’s people, property, environment and each other.

We thank you for the incredible support shown to Vashon Island Fire & Rescue.

And we encourage all of you to please attend our bi-monthly meetings to add your voice in guiding our department into the future. May you never need us.

— Camille Staczek & the VIFR board