Vote - West Pierce Fire & Rescue - West Pierce Fire & Rescue

WEST PIERCE FIRE & RESCUE PLACES MAINTENANCE & OPERATIONS LEVY ON AUGUST 1 BALLOT

PROPOSITION 1 is a REPLACEMENT of the fire district’s current MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS LEVY, which expires at the end of this year. The request is for $16.9 million dollars annually. This is not a new levy, but a continuation of the maintenance and operations levy the community has supported for nearly 50 years. This ballot measure funds approximately 25% of the fire district’s operating budget.

Demand for service continues to increase
West Pierce Fire & Rescue is a highly urbanized fire department serving a population of over 100,000 people. In 2022, West Pierce had the highest call volume per capita of any fire district in Pierce County, and the demand for service continues to increase. In just the past two years, the department has seen call volume increase an additional 10%.

This funding is critical for continuing effective service delivery
During the last four-year levy period, the department added several key resources, such as a fifth advanced life support transport unit, two squads, and a Connected CARE program to deliver non-emergent medical care. Replacement of the current levy provides the funding needed to continue these vital programs and maintains the current service level you have come to expect from the fire district.

This funding supports 25% of the district’s operations
West Pierce Fire & Rescue operates six fire stations, throughout the communities of University Place and Lakewood, each staffed with advanced life support Firefighter/Paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians. West Pierce Fire & Rescue provides fire suppression, emergency medical treatment and transport, hazardous materials and technical rescue response, water rescue, fire prevention programs, public education and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training.

This is not a new levy
Proposition 1 is a replacement of the current four-year Maintenance and Operations Levy, which will expire at the end of 2023. The community has continually supported a Maintenance and Operations Levy for nearly 50 years. The 2019 ballot measure funded a four-year hiring plan, which helped to effectively manage the increasing call volume. This ballot measure will maintain that level of staffing for the next four years.

For any inquiries regarding this ballot measure,
please contact Fire Chief Jim Sharp or Finance Director Koree Wick at 253.564.1623