Fire chief Charlie Krimmert has recommended that commissioners ask islanders to increase the fire district’s levy rate to $1.50 per $1,000 this November, a 57 cent increase over what homeowners currently pay.

Fire commissioners will host two public meetings next week, on Tuesday and Friday, regarding the proposed tax increase. They encourage islanders to attend, learn about the fire district’s challenges and ask questions. The commissioners must make a decision on the levy rate before the Aug. 1 filing date. Vashon Island Fire &Rescue, once known for its comfortable reserves, will face bankruptcy next year if it does not increase its revenue, Krimmert said, and it now faces limited emergency response capabilities because of a low number of personnel, including volunteers. Its challenges also include an aging vehicle fleet and facilities. While Krimmert is recommending the increase to $1.50, the maximum allowed by law, he has told the commissioners if they do not feel they can go that high, an increase to at least $1.44 is necessary to restore the ailing district to sound financial health.

Public understanding is now critical, board Chair Camille Staczek said.

“I think they (islanders) need to come to understand why we are asking for this money,” she said, adding, “What value do people place on the department? Is it worth 57 cents more? Or is it worth less?”

Krimmert, who will provide an overview regarding the state of the district at the Tuesday meeting, also encouraged community members to attend. He said he understands that islanders will face a property tax increase next year because of the education funding provisions in the recent state budget; however, after 26 years of not seeking higher taxes, the fire district is in trouble. And the district’s trouble could have a significant effect on islanders.

“Of all the taxes you are being burdened with, we are the only ones that show up on your worst day,” he said.

While there are two meetings next week and the public is welcome at both, district officials encourage people with comments and questions to attend the first meeting, saying that earlier input is better. Krimmert noted he hopes that a decision will be made at Tuesday’s meeting, so the Friday meeting can be dedicated to finalizing the resolution for the election.

When fire commissioners began talking about raising taxes earlier this year, there was concern that a substantial increase could hurt the Vashon Park District because of Washington state’s property tax laws. These laws set the taxing limit for cities, counties and most special districts at $5.90 per $1,000. If that $5.90 limit is exceeded, the law calls for prorationing — or reducing what some of the junior districts, such as the park district, receive.

That concern for the park district has now been allayed. Both Elaine Ott-Rocheford, the executive director of the park district, and Krimmert say further conversations with the King County Assessor’s Office were helpful in that regard. Ott-Rocheford added that with guidance from the assessor’s office, she completed a spreadsheet that indicates the fire department could ask for $1.50 and not cause a loss of revenue for the park district or prohibit it from asking for a rate of 60 cents in 2019, when islanders vote next on its levy rate.

“I am feeling a greater level of comfort with this whole scenario,” Ott-Rocheford said, adding that she will continue to explore the matter. “That is the conclusion I have come up with initially, but I am not done.”

She noted that the Vashon Park District is at the bottom of the pecking order regarding districts potentially affected by prorationing, and so she continues to be somewhat wary. According to her tabulations, there are scenarios with other taxing districts, such as King County general and King County Roads, where certain increases to them in the coming years could affect the park district because of the fire district’s increased rate. She also added that such concerns come with her role.

“To be fair to the fire district, I will always have concerns. It is my job to have concerns,” she said. “I would prefer as much wiggle room as possible.”

Krimmert, who stepped into his position in January after 16 years as a volunteer with the district, elaborated early this week on why he believes that $1.50 is essential to the fire district. He also provided his thoughts in a recent decision statement to the board.

“We do not have enough people to handle multiple medical emergency calls. We do not have enough people to properly and safely fight a building fire. We do not have any way to replace our aging fire engines and ambulances,” he wrote.

Funding the district at a rate of $1.50 would help the district and the community in a variety of ways, he said. Most importantly, increased funding would allow the district to fully fund a part-time paid firefighter program and work toward hiring additional full-time career staff. It would also enable the district to bring back a recruitment and retention coordinator to help nurture what Krimmert termed an “all-important on-island responder force.”

With staffing at the levels that Krimmert is aiming for, the district would be able to respond to three simultaneous calls, something that occurs about twice per week. With staffing at the current levels, the district can respond to just one to two calls at a time.

Assistant Chief Bob Larsen noted that 99 times between Jan. 1 and June 30, the district responded to multiple calls simultaneously. So far, staff and volunteers have been able to respond to them all, but many in the district worry that that will not always be the case.

“I cannot guarantee we are going to be able to continue to handle them,” he said. “The risk is real.”

Additionally, a levy rate of $1.50 would allow the district to fight fires, Krimmert said, “as they should be fought, saving property by having enough people to enter burning buildings and fight from within while conforming to state law.”

Also, he said, the increased funds would allow the district to save for “known, essential and ongoing equipment replacement.” Items in this category include breathing apparatus, firefighter “bunker” safety clothing and hoses, as well as far more expensive purchases, such as ambulances and fire engines.

Krimmert noted these costs are routine expenses for a fire department, the industry’s version of office supplies.

“This is like money at a business to buy paper. Our gear is our paper,” he said.

Despite Krimmert’s recommendation, it is the commissioners who will determine how much to request come November. Should they decide to ask for $1.44, Krimmert said, voters would be asked to grant the commissioners the authority to raise tax revenue by 1 percent to 6 percent for five years annually starting in 2019 rather than go back for another levy election.

Looking toward November, Krimmert said that the district will form a citizens committee to run the campaign, as state law limits campaigning by members of the fire district. Before then, however, commissioners hope to hear from the public and would like to see a good turnout next week at the meetings.