Levy Lid Lift Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is a levy?

A levy is a voter approved tax that helps fund essential services like the Lyle Fire District. Learn more about the first proposed levy lid lift in 20 years - The proposal will appear on the August 4, 2026 ballot asking voters to consider a levy of $1.15 per $1,000 of assessed property value (not full market value).

Older equipment is more costly to maintain, especially as parts and expertise to repair decrease or become nonexistent. Years of deferred maintenance can lead to unreliable equipment.

How does a levy lid lift help our district?

A levy lid lift will balance levy erosion and increases in costs that have occurred since the last levy lid lift in 2006. Voters approving a levy lid lift would stop deferred maintenance and allow repair or replacement of aging equipment, provide consistent fire response, shift property insurance impacts, ensure safety for volunteer firefighters, update extrication equipment, and continue EMS services.

How are fire district services funded?

Our daily operations are funded largely by a voter approved property tax levy which is maximized by trained neighbors who donate their time as responders. The last levy lid lift was approved in 2006 and has not been adjusted for inflation. Other funding has come from individual donors along with occasional grant funding that is competitive and inconsistent in its availability. Tax payer investments through a levy make quick and consistent response possible to protect lives and property to serve our community every day and night.

Why do levy rates decrease over time?

Levy rates fall as property values rise in order to limit the fire district to roughly the same amount of revenue each year (plus any additional voter approved amounts). This is called “levy erosion”. Levy erosion is one reason a fire district occasionally asks voters to consider a lid lift to restore levy rates to the amounts originally approved.

Why does growth increase demand for service?

New homes and businesses increase property values which drive the levy rate down further. This means the Lyle Fire District must cover new developed buildings and areas with less revenue than it costs to provide service.

Here is a general example: Voters approve a levy of $1.15 per $1,000 of assessed property value for fire service. A new housing development is added and the combined assessed value of those homes immediately lowers the levy value to $0.96 per $1,000. This means the fire district must protect more homes while receiving less than the $1.15 per $1,000 originally approved to provide that service.

Why do costs to provide service continue to rise?

Voters approved the fire levy lid lift 20 years ago. The value of the levy has since fallen in value due to inflation along with more dispersed structures districtwide (levy erosion), increasing the basic cost of providing service. Over the last few years, costs have skyrocketed. Parts and maintenance for our aging emergency equipment has increased, if they can be sourced. Personal protective equipment expenses for firefighters have increased. Training costs have risen substantially due to the increasing cost of equipment and materials used for hands-on firefighter training. Required Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau (WSRB) testing costs have increased as well.

To stay within budget constraints, the district has gotten creative over the years, however, a large portion of maintenance has been deferred over multiple years and protective equipment has been minimally replaced despite the need to do so. Deferred maintenance, lack of training and faulty equipment can lead to inconsistent and delayed response to the community.

How do we maintain emergency services for our community?

The Board of Fire Commissioners will ask voters to consider a levy lid lift during the August 4, 2026 primary election to secure fire district funding. 

The proposed lid lift would cost the owner of a $350,000 property (assessed value) approximately $33.54 per month.​​

What is the assessed value of a property?

Assessed property value is the amount assigned to a property by a local government (Klickitat County) to calculate annual property taxes. It is strictly used as the tax base and does not necessarily reflect the worth of the property on the real estate market.

How do I get additional questions answered?

We expect questions and will add to this frequently asked questions (FAQ) list as more questions are brought to our attention. Feel encouraged to attend an upcoming business meeting or contact us at Levy@LyleFire.com.