After a handful of meetings and dozens of public comments about a proposed levy increase for South Whidbey Fire/EMS, the commissioners will vote later this month.

The fire commissioners are scheduled to vote on a 15-cent increase for the fire protection district’s maintenance and operations budget at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 14. If it is approved, the measure will be added to the November general election ballot.

Fire commissioners will meet at the Freeland station, located at 5535 Cameron Road.

A levy increase is necessary, Fire Chief Rusty Palmer said, to restore funding to the district’s volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician programs. The proposed lid lift would be the first voter-approved funding increase for the program in more than 20 years.

The levy is currently at 61 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. Under the proposed rate of 76 cents, a $200,000 property would pay $152 annually.

Funds from the levy lid lift will be used to train volunteers, as well as maintain and replace fire and medical equipment.

The public is invited to attend and comment on the proposed resolution. Those unable to attend may email their opinions to Chief Rusty Palmer at chief@icfd3.org.