Firefighter Charlie Campbell asks members of the Fire District 3 community to learn more about the current levy lid lift
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and do not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com
As a firefighter, I am asking our community to learn more about Fire District 3’s lid lift. We are struggling to meet the emergency service needs of our community.
Call volumes have increased 25 percent in six years and our community requires more firefighters to respond. This includes paramedic-certified firefighters to provide critical patient care during medical emergencies (now 70 percent of all calls). We also need to staff the station on Rawson Road full-time to improve our emergency response district wide.
The current fire levy is not adequate to fund what our community requires. The levy rate falls every year and we have had to cut funding for two firefighter/paramedics as a result. A failed levy lid lift will continue to result in reduced staffing, longer response times, unstaffed fire stations and higher homeowner insurance premiums for residents.
I have lived in Fire District 3 for 25 years and have served it for 20 years. Our fire district doesn’t control growth, but we must serve it. Without adequate funding, all residents (new and old) suffer from longer response times and outdated medical/rescue equipment. Please learn more at www.fire3.org.
Charlie Campbell
Clark County
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Yadayadayada… “give us more and more and more money”
In these days and times, before anyone’s request for more money is going to be even remotely considered, I need to hear facts as to what has been done to cut back on current costs.
EVERY person I know in my circle of friends – retirees, working professionals, educated, blue collar – are all making hard decisions about where to cut back in their budgets in an effort to stretch their dollars.
Have there been an EXPANSION of current facilities and services? Where are the examples of how they’ve attempted to stretch and better manage their current funds?
Refurbish older equipment vs buying new?
Making do with current stations instead of building new?
Repair and maintain current engines vs buying new?
It’s like government and budgets… there can be no belt-tightening; all monies must be fully spent and a deficit shown so that the need for MORE MONEY can be used to scare taxpayers into paying even more and more and more.
Sorry, but until I see a listing of belt-tightening steps that have been taken, and will be taken in the future, then the consideration of additional monies is a HARD NO.
Susan,
As a former resident who was born and raised in Fire District 3, I can attest to the fact that Fire District 3 is a very fiscally responsible department. In fact they have stretched current funding and have worked hard to maintain their current apparatus which has allowed them to operate well past the 20 year recommended replacement period.The fire engine that is staffed out of Hockinson (E31) served as the frontline engine from 1998-2022, 4 years past the recommended replacement! This was only possible because of the pride the department takes in the apparatus that the community provides. Operational costs will always continue to rise with inflation and continued growth. Without proper funding and levy rates being lifted/maintained, the ability to provide the highest level of service becomes unfeasible.
Not good enough. One example does not reflect the entire budget-management philosophy.
Wish I could tell my boss: “Hey, I tried, I really tried. I cut back on eating out 4 x monthly, and went to 2 x monthly… but I didn’t really save that much money so, boss, you need to give me another raise.”
It’s time government and governmental-services join the real world.