Fire Levy Lid Lift
Read a letter to residents from Fire Chief Salsbury here.
- Thank You for Supporting Adams County Fire District #5
- Adams County Fire Protection District #5 provides fire protection and emergency rescue services to approximately 7,600 residents across 215 square miles in the heart of the Columbia Basin. The district also serves the City of Othello (population 7,000) through a service contract that will end in May 2026.
- Our team of five full-time and 25 volunteer emergency personnel is proud to serve the residents and businesses in our community. ACFD#5 is debt-free, operates under a balanced budget, and has consistently passed all independent financial audits conducted by the state. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ How Emergency Services Are Funded
- Daily operations are currently funded in two ways:
- Fire District Property Owners: Pay property taxes through a fire levy directly to the district at a rate of $0.64 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
- City Property Owners: Pay property taxes to the City of Othello, and the city pays the fire district at a contract rate of $0.65 per $1,000 for the assessed value of all properties in the city.
- ACFD#5 operates on an annual budget of $1.43 million. Of this, $610,000 comes from fire district property owners, and $793,000 is paid by the city. ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Rising Costs and Revenue Challenges
- Emergency call volumes continue to rise (25.4% in the fire district in four years and 43.5% in the city), along with the costs of providing service. These increases include:
- ● Fire engines: Nearly a 100% increase
- ● Emergency dispatch: Costs are projected to rise 123% in 2026
- ● Required reporting software: Up 963% since 2021
- ● Safety gear, utilities, and hoses: Up 58%, 14%, and 65%, respectively, since 2021
- Othello’s contract makes up more than half of ACFD#5’s budget, and this revenue loss presents a significant funding gap. To prepare, the district will make difficult cuts—deferring vehicle replacement of emergency apparatus, canceling station renovations, and eliminating city-specific safety programs. However, the district must still meet state requirements and rising operational costs. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Maintaining Emergency Services
- To help maintain service levels, ACFD#5 is considering a fire levy increase of $0.27 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Voters may see this proposal on the November 2025 general election ballot.
- The owner of an average property assessed at $222,000 (considered an average in the fire district) would pay about $60 more per year, or $5 more per month.
- Property tax exemptions are available for qualifying homeowners on fixed incomes.
- In the long term, ACFD#5 is recommending that the city ask its voters to annex into the fire district. If approved, all property owners—both city and fire district—would pay the same rate for emergency services. _______________________________________________________________________________________________
- Frequently Asked Questions About the Fire Levy Lid Lift
- What’s on my ballot?
- Adams County Fire District #5 is asking voters for a fire levy lid lift of $0.27 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The proposal will be on the November 4, 2025, general election ballot.
- Why is my fire district asking for this?
- There are two reasons. First, fire services are currently funded by a levy paid by fire district property owners and a contract paid by the city of Othello. The city contract accounts for more than half of the revenue we have to provide emergency services. The city has cancelled the contract as of May 2026.
- Second, call volumes have increased 25% over the last four years in the fire district. More calls mean higher costs and these costs are even higher due to inflation. These costs are out of the fire district’s control but must be paid to continue to provide service to its residents.
- Why did the city cancel the contract?
- The contract says that the city must pay the same rate as property owners in the fire district. The contract amount is calculated by multiplying the fire district levy rate and the assessed value of all properties in the city. The assessed value of properties in the city has increased, and the city feels the contract costs are now too high.
- What will the lid lift fund? Is it enough?
- The lid lift will allow the district to maintain the level and quality of emergency services residents currently receive. It will be enough with deep budget cuts, such as deferring emergency apparatus replacement, canceling station renovations, and eliminating city-specific programs.
- How much will it cost?
- Property owners currently pay $0.63 per $1,000. The lid lift is an additional $0.27 per $1,000 or approximately $5 per month/ $60 per year for the average property owner. Homeowners who meet income and eligibility requirements will continue to qualify for a property tax exemption.
- Is there a better option?
- Short-term, no. The fire district requires a certain amount of revenue to be able to respond to emergency calls. Long term, ACFD#5 recommends the city annexes into the fire district, so all property owners pay the fire district directly for service.
- Learn more at www.acfd5.com or contact Fire Chief Tom Salsbury at 509-488-2951 or tsalsbury@acfd5.com.
- Thank you for considering our request.