EJFR Commissioners place measures on February ballot
At the November 18th meeting, the EJFR Board of Fire Commissioners unanimously approved resolutions to place Proposition 1 Fire Levy Lid Lift and Proposition 2 Emergency Medical Service Levy Lid Lift on the February 10, 2026 ballot.
Resolution 25-15 Proposition 1 Fire Levy
Proposition 1 will restore the Fire Levy to $1.40 per $1000 of property valuation.
Resolution 25-16 Proposition 2 EMS Levy
Proposition 2 will restore the EMS Levy to $0.50 per $1000 of property valuation.
Committee Members Sought for ‘For’ and ‘Against’ Statements
East Jefferson Fire Rescue recently adopted Resolutions No. 25-15 and 25-16 providing for the submission to the voters on February 10, 2026, a proposition authorizing the District to restore its EMS levy at a rate to $.50 per thousand of assessed valuation for collection beginning in 2027 and to establish its fire levy rate at $1.40 per thousand of assessed valuation.
The District is accepting names of people interested in participating in voter pamphlet statement pro and con committees for either or both ballot measures. Citizens interested in participating, please contact Tanya Cray at tcray@ejfr.org or 360-437-2236 by December 10, 2025. Appointments must be submitted to the County by December 12, 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is EJFR funded?
More than 80% of EJFR’s annual budget is funded by local property taxes. However, state law limits property tax revenue growth for fire districts to 1% per year, regardless of increases in assessed property values. At the same time, the actual cost of providing fire and EMS services rises at least around the rate of inflation, typically 3%-4% per year. Operational expenses including personnel, equipment, training, and facilities increase yearly, well beyond this 1% limit, making it increasingly difficult to sustain a high level of service to the community. Resetting these levy rates is part of a broader, responsible financial strategy, but cannot be done without voter approval.
How has EJFR improved over the past few years?
EJFR now staffs five stations across the 123 square mile district with 13 firefighters on duty each day (up from 7 per day), at least three of those firefighters are paramedics, providing advanced medical care. We have added new ALS equipment, cardiac monitors, power cots, and ultrasounds placing EJFR’s EMS care on par with larger, well-funded fire departments in urban areas. New and expanded programs to reduce and mitigate emergency responses include our CARES unit, home wildfire assessments, smoke detector installations, fire extinguisher classes, and more.
What is CARES?
Community Assistance Referral and Education Services. CARES made 1500+ contacts last year, helping to connect our most vulnerable population to resources and services. CARES provides medical referrals, prescriptions coordination, food/housing support, counseling, medical equipment, grab bars, etc.
Will firefighter salaries be directly impacted by the levy?
As public employees, our firefighters are compensated by contract; the current contract term is established through 2027. The district strives to stay within our means. But at the same time, it would be detrimental to have our salaries not keep up when people are looking for other opportunities outside of the organization, which has happened several times in the past. Remaining competitive in the firefighter job market is a continuing challenge as larger urban and suburban fire departments offer signing bonuses and other incentives that exceed EJFR’s financial capacity.
How much will this cost the average property?
Using the latest estimates provided by the Jefferson County Assessor’s Office, a property with an assessed value of $600,000 will see an approximate annual tax increase of $150.00 if both initiatives were approved by the voters. For homes with assessed value of $350,000, an approximate annual tax increase of $87.50 if both initiatives are approved.
