A levy lid lift for South Whidbey Fire/EMS will officially appear on the upcoming primary election ballot.

During its March 14 meeting, the board of commissioners approved the rate of $1.20 per $1,000 of assessed property value, a 39-cent increase. For the owner of a $600,000 home, this amounts to an additional $19.50 per month.

The district proposed the new rate because increasing property values caused the levy rate of 95 cents that was passed in 2021 to compress.

The levy lid lift is slated to be on the Aug. 6 ballot this year.

If approved by voters, it will fund two more firefighters per day, staffing at a third station in the southeast part of the district, firefighter training programs and replacement of aging engines and equipment, according to a press release from South Whidbey Fire/EMS.

Average response time to each call is 15 minutes, which the passage of the levy lid lift would help decrease.

To learn more, visit swfe.org or contact Fire Chief Nick Walsh with questions at 360-321-1533 or chief@swfe.org.