I’m fiscally conservative but support the Vashon Island Fire & Rescue levy.

Twenty-seven years of no tax increase, tripled call volume and being the lowest-funded district in King County is a recipe for disaster.

Islanders Hilary Emmer and Scott Harvey (both anti-levy) don’t appear to have done their homework.

VIFR isn’t seeking “as much as $6 million/year by 2023,” as Emmer said in a recent Beachcomber article. VIFR is trying to bring a maximum levy allowance of $1.50 back to that level after 27 years of denigration to nearly 94 cents. The up to 6 percent increase per year keeps it from denigrating again until it can go back to voters in 2023.

Chief Krimmert’s budget analysis (did Emmer and Harvey miss those) clearly showed anything less than the restored $1.50 will not pull VIFR out of crisis.

Audit of VIFR shows no wastefulness and a frugal department, capable despite gross underfunding. When Chief Krimmert, commissioners and firefighters report we’re in trouble and what’s needed to pull out of it, we should listen.

911 isn’t important to us until we dial it. Then it’s the most important thing in the world.

Vote “yes” for VIFR.

I am.

— Marcia Crews