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 in Lyle, Washington. Learn more about the first proposed levy lid lift in 20 years that will appear on the August 4, 2026 ballot.

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

How does a levy lift help our district?

A levy lid lift will balance the levy erosion and increase in costs that has occurred since the last levy lid lift in 2006. Voters approving a levy lid lift would stop deferred maintenance and allow repair of aging equipment, shift property insurance impacts, provide consistent fire response, 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 maximized by trained neighbors who donate their time as responders. The last levy lid lift passed 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 the levy make it possible for a quick and consistent response to protect lives and property, and serve our community every day.

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”. That’s why 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 development with less revenue than it costs to provide service.

Here is a general example: Voters approve a levy of $1.50 per $1,000 for fire service. A new housing development is added and the combined assessed value of those homes lowers the value to $1.25 per $1,000. This means the fire district must protect more homes while receiving less than the $1.50 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 and it has since fallen in value due to inflation along with more dispersed structures districtwide, 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 for firefighters have increased. Training costs have also risen substantially due to the increasing cost of equipment and materials used for hands-on firefighter training. The required Washington Surveying and Rating Bureau (WSRB) testing costs have increased as well. To stay within budget constraints, the district has gotten creative, 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.

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.​​