Spokane County Fire District #9 (SCFD #9) has utilized a Maintenance and Operations Levy (M&O) for over 28 years to fund District maintenance and operations. By state law, M&O levies are for a fixed duration. The last levy was voted and approved in 2021 which funded the Fire District for 2022, 2023, and 2024. The upcoming April special election ballot will ask voters to authorize the M&O levy to fund current service levels for 2025, 2026, and 2027. This is NOT a new tax but rather a renewal of funding that must be voter approved.
Levies are the primary funding source for fire and emergency services provided to the citizens of Fire District 9. Levies pay for staffing, equipment, maintenance, and operating expenses to provide structure and wildland fire suppression, advanced life support-paramedics, and other essential services to our citizens in our Fire District.
In 2023, SCFD #9 responded to the community’s requests for emergency medical care, fire suppression, rescue, and other emergencies, 7,592 times. This is a 21.4% increase in calls for service since 2020.