Frequently Asked Questions
(Thank you to all our voters who supported this tax increase)
In August of 2023, South Pend Oreille Fire and Rescue (SPOFR) asked our voters for an increase of $.50 in its levy, bringing the total amount to $1.25 per $1000 assessed value. This increase was granted by 72% of the voters. The anticipated increase in revenue is approximately $500,000. The line item on your Property Tax Statement reads:
SPOFR (FRMRLY FD’s 1,3,6,7 & 8)
In November of 2023, the City of Newport asked its voters for a $1.00 tax levy per $1000 assessed value for Fire and EMS support. This new tax was granted by 67% of the voters. The anticipated increase in revenue is approximately $200,000. The line item on Newport’s Tax Statement reads:
NEWPORT
Property taxes do not become available to the fire district or to the city until after they have been collected. In Washington, the 1st half of our taxes are due by April 30th and the 2nd half is due by October 31st. Most taxes are paid around those dates, however property tax dollars do trickle in though out the year as some pay early or late. Therefore, the bulk of the money is not allotted to the fire district or city until early May and early November. On taxes newly approved, this delays implementing the commitments made to our voters.
Examples:
City of Newport anticipates $200,000 for Fire and EMS. They began with $0 carryover from prior year as this was a new tax They must wait until early May, when approximately $100,000 is made available, to begin implementing changes.
SPOFR anticipates $500,000 for Fire and EMS. Due to minor budget carryover from prior year, some EMS implementation can begin prior to receiving additional funds in early May, when approximately $250,000 is made available. Total tax funds to SPOFR in 2024 is estimated at $1,250,000. That revenue is used to fund the Fire District for payroll, utilities, insurance, upkeep on 8 fire stations and 40+ pieces of fire apparatus (engines, tenders, brush trucks, ambulances, etc), purchasing new equipment, as well as day to day operating costs.