Evergreen Fire District turns to voters for funding woes

Evergreen Fire District is seeking approval of a levy that would allow the department to bring on new equipment, bolster staffing levels, and give employees more competitive pay, according to Chief Craig Williams.

“We’re resilient, it's a badge of honor that we always make do with less. But I'm going to be honest, we are struggling,” Williams said during a presentation to community business leaders last month. 

The permanent levy, which is expected to net $2.55 million in its first year, would allow Evergreen Fire and Rescue to field six personnel at all times, grant moderate wage and benefit increases to employees, and allow the agency to simultaneously respond to multiple calls, officials said.

Fire officials for the unincorporated community cited increased employee turnover, a rapid increase in call volumes and resource constraints as the driving forces behind the request to levy an additional 77.67 mills.

Speaking before the Evergreen Chamber of Commerce at a March luncheon, Williams, who has been with the fire district for 29 years, emphasized the uptick in service calls.

In 2004, the year Evergreen Fire and Rescue transitioned from an all-volunteer force, the district saw 454 emergency calls. Calls increased to 687 in 2006 and by 2009 the department was fielding 1,426 calls annually. In 2023, the department went out on 2,314 calls, according to Williams. 

“If we are going to provide you with the level of service that Evergreen has grown to expect, we’re going to need some help,” Williams said. 

Voters approved a previous levy of 37.72 mills for Evergreen Fire in 2019. But that levy will sunset in 2029 and securing a revenue stream that takes into account the increased demands on the agency before then is critical, Williams said. 

The 2019 levy would immediately expire and be replaced with the proposed permanent levy if it meets with approval at the ballot box, officials said. 

The department took another hit to its finances when Logan Health established an ambulance service last year, according to Williams. For the past 15 years, Evergreen Fire and Rescue contracted with the hospital system to provide transportation services. The agreement covered about 40% of the department’s operational budget, he said.  

Logan Health launched its emergency medical services to address health care needs in rural communities, according to a hospital spokesperson.

Nevertheless, the impact was drastic in Evergreen, Williams said. From January to June in 2022, the department received $143,792 for its services from Logan Health. In 2023, that figure fell to $11,786. 

As for employee retention, Williams said that the agency’s personnel will often depart for other departments in the valley that offer more competitive wages. Since 2019, 80% of the district’s employee turnover has been because people found better paying positions elsewhere.

If passed, the levy would result in a tax increase of about $104.86 — or about $8.74 per month — on a home valued at $100,000. For a home valued at $300,000, the tax increase would amount to about $314.56 each year and the owner of a home valued at $600,000 likely would see an increase of $629.13 annually. 

The tax impact to homeowners would be offset in part by the removal of the 2019 levy.*

Voters can anticipate receiving ballots mid-April with a deadline to return them by May 7. 

Reporter Kate Heston can be reached at kheston@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4459.

* This story has been updated.

    Evergreen Fire Rescue Station 81 on Tuesday, April 2. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Evergreen Fire Rescue Station 81 on Tuesday, April 2. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Evergreen Fire Rescue Station 81 on Tuesday, April 2. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider