Fire District 3 Chief Scott Soreson addresses discussions for 2023 budget
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
Transparency is key to earn the trust of our taxpayers. I wanted to update our community about operations and capital projects that we are considering for Clark County Fire District 3.
The Board of Fire Commissioners is in the process of discussing its budget for 2023 based on a strategic plan we passed in 2020. This includes a fire levy lid lift for operations and eventually a bond for another station. We want to stagger these funding requests to reduce impacts to taxpayers.
The priority for our community is to add additional emergency personnel to allow for three-person engine companies to meet the national standard. Two firefighters on an engine prevents us from entering a building for search and rescue. Our community has grown to the point where fire calls require this level of staffing.
We have approached the Clark County Council – without success – to pass impact fees on new development. (The city of Battle Ground already collects them.) Impact fees are paid by new growth and would be dedicated to the additional fire station. We would still need a bond, but it reduces the amount of that debt and saves taxpayers money.
Scott Sorenson, fire chief
Fire District 3
Also read:
- Opinion: When you’ve lost Christine Gregoire, you’ve lost Washington
Former Gov. Gregoire says Washington’s $80B budget reflects a spending problem, not an income problem. - Letter: Present bridge plan has been in the expensive and unworkable planning stage far too long with no real end in sight
Brush Prairie resident Bob Mattila argues the I-5 Bridge plan doubles costs by including light rail on the span. - Letter: Stop turning gas prices into war propaganda
Camas resident Tony Teso fires back at Jonathan Hines, arguing militarism won’t lower fuel costs for working families. - Letter: Compassion requires accountability
A medical provider and downtown Vancouver resident challenges whether current homelessness policies produce measurable results. - POLL: Should C-TRAN taxpayers be protected from paying additional costs tied to extending light rail to Library Square?
C-TRAN’s board asked IBR to extend light rail to Library Square but voted down taxpayer cost protections.
